Huskers Set to Make Return to NCAA Championships

The Nebraska rifle team will make its eighth all-time appearance at the NCAA Championships this weekend at the TCU Rifle Range and the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Forth Worth, Texas.

The appearance marks the Huskers' sixth in the last seven years. NU's best finish at the event came in 2006 when the Big Red finished second. Under Head Coach Morgan Hicks - who is leading the team to the NCAA Championships for the second time in her three years at NU - the Huskers have a 10-9 record, with all nine losses coming at the hands of NCAA Championships qualifying teams.

"We will be up against the best in the nation at Championships, but we are glad to be a part of that elite group," Hicks said. "I think this will be a great match for the girls and I can't wait to see how things pan out."

Despite the tough competition, Hicks is optimistic about the team's performance this weekend.

"We have already shot on their range earlier this year and the girls felt good about it," Hicks said. "The environment will be a little more intense as it is the Championships, but we have been preparing hard for this and are ready for it."

The Huskers' team total of 4,615 in Forth Worth on Nov. 21 was the second-highest total NU produced on the road this season and five points above its season average.

"I have a lot of the team peaking at the right time and look forward to seeing how they do this weekend," Hicks said.

The top eight teams in both the smallbore and air rifle events were selected based on the average of the three highest regular-season aggregate scores with no more than one match at any given site. The average of the three highest scores was added to the aggregate scores from the designated qualifiers to determine the top eight teams.

In addition, eight individuals qualified to compete in either the smallbore or air rifle disciplines.

Individual and team competitions in smallbore will be held Friday, March 12. Individual and team competitions in air rifle will be held Saturday, March 13.

For more information about the 2010 NCAA Rifle Championships, log on to www.ncaa.com.

To view live video of the 2010 NCAA Rifle Championships, click here.