Huskers Open Season Friday

Lincoln-The 2006-07 Nebraska rifle season opens this weekend as the Huskers host matches with Ole Miss and Army at the Nebraska Rifle and Pistol Range. The Huskers open the season against Ole Miss Friday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m. Rifle action will continue Sunday, as Nebraska challenges Army at 9 a.m.

NU welcomes back five members from last season’s squad. Seniors Stacy Underwood and Kristina Fehlings and juniors Kim Chrostowski, Katie Harrington and Kirsten Weiss will pursue Nebraska’s first-ever NCAA rifle title. Newcomers Amanda Jeffries and Christine Costello will add talent to the experienced team.

Nebraska Head Coach Launi Meili, who was named the 2006 Great America Rifle Conference Coach of the Year, led Nebraska to an undefeated 2005-06 regular season. The Huskers finished the season with a repeat GARC championship and a program-best second-place finish at the 2006 NCAA Championships. Meili hopes for experience to be the Huskers’ key weapon in the hunt for a national title this season.

"The team this year really wants to win the national title," Meli said. "We’ve been slowly growing over the last four years and our goal is to take it to the very next level."

After the duals this weekend, the Huskers will travel to a series of tournaments before returning to their home range in February to challenge Memphis and compete in the NCAA qualifier.