Sept. 18, 2012

OXFORD, Miss. - With seven letterwinners and three of the top four shooters from 2011-12 returning this year, the Ole Miss rifle team earned a ranking of No. 6 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association preseason poll.

"We are excited about the ranking, but this number isn't as important as the one at the end," head coach Valerie Boothe said.  "This number may change throughout the year, but the team's effort and dedication will not.  We are determined to make this our best year."

Leading the returnees are juniors Melissa Quartarone and Abbey Stanec.  Stanec finished runner-up at the NCAA Championships in air rifle with a 693.5 score, to complete a successful sophomore season, while Quartarone earned second team All-America honors in smallbore.

After just missing out on the NCAA Championships as a team the past two years, the Rebels are aiming to make it in 2012-13.  Their quest begins Oct. 4 at the Memphis Invitational.  The first home event will be Oct. 5 when they host the Ole Miss Invitational.
    
Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association
Preseason Top 20
1. TCU
2. Kentucky
3. West Virginia
4. University of Alaska Fairbanks
5. United States Military Academy
6. Ole Miss
7. Jacksonville State University
8. Murray State University
9. University of Nevada-Reno
10. Ohio State
       Nebraska
12. United States Air Force Academy
13. UTEP
14. Memphis
15. United States Naval Academy
16. Columbus State
17. Akron
18. North Carolina State
19. Morehead State
20. UT-Martin