Rifle Third at NCAA Sectional Qualifier

Saturday, February 18

Murray, Ky.

University of Memphis

NCAA Sectional Qualifier

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 20, 2017 | Rifle

Broughton, Fister lead the Tigers.

MURRAY, Ky. – University of Memphis' Haylea Broughton and Amy Fister paced the Tigers' third-place effort at the 2017 NCAA Sectional Qualifier last weekend. Murray State hosted the NCAA match.

Memphis, ranked No. 11 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) poll, placed third at the NCAA Sectional Qualifier with a team aggregate score of 4641. The Tigers posted a 2301 smallbore score and a 2340 air rifle result. Murray State, ranked No. 3 in the nation, won Saturday's match with a 4702 aggregate (2337-2365). Nebraska, ranked No. 8 in the most-recent CRCA poll, was second with a 4666 (2312-2354).

The Tigers now wait to see if they will have representation at the 2017 NCAA Championships Mar. 10-11 in Columbus, Ohio. The NCAA rifle selection show is Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. (CT) on ncaa.com. Ohio State University is hosting the national event.

Broughton had her best match since the Tigers' appearance at Jacksonville State's Gamecock Invitational. The junior shot a 1169 aggregate score for her best performance since she posted a 1170 Nov. 20. Her 577 smallbore total was her highest mark since that same Nov. 20 match (579). Broughton's 592 air rifle score also was her second-best of the season (595 at Navy/Oct. 9).

Broughton placed seventh in aggregate and also was fourth in air rifle and 11^th in smallbore. She was Memphis' top shooter in air rifle Saturday.

Fister placed just outside the top-10 in aggregate with a 1163 (582-581). The senior was the squad's second-highest finisher in smallbore at seventh (582) and was 21^st overall in air rifle (581).

Senior Jack Berhorst and freshman Abby Votava both posted season-bests in air rifle. Berhorst shot a 584 and placed 17^th in the discipline Saturday. His previous season-high air rifle score was 583 versus West Virginia Nov. 5. Votava continued her hot shooting since the start of the 2017 calendar year. She recorded a season-high 586 air rifle mark, surpassing her previous best of 582 set at Murray State's Withrow Invitational Jan. 21.

Makennon Doran had a career day at Saturday's 2017 NCAA Section Qualifier. The junior recorded career highs across the board in smallbore (586), air rifle (590) and aggregate score (1176). He shattered his previous bests of 579 in smallbore (Jan. 21 at Withrow Invitational) and 1166 in aggregate (2015 NCAA Sectional Qualifier). Doran's 590 in air rifle edged his previous best in the discipline (589 at 2015 NCAA Sectional Qualifier).

Doran was Memphis' top aggregate finisher with his 1176 score (4^th overall) Saturday. He also posted the Tigers' top smallbore finish (4^th; 586) and second-best air rifle performance (7^th; 590).

After they learn their NCAA Championships fate Wednesday, the Tigers go on the road to Akron, Ohio, to shoot in the Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships Friday-Saturday, Feb. 24-25.

Team/National Ranking	Smallbore	Air Rifle	Aggregate
Murray State/#3	2337	2365	4702
Nebraska/#8	2312	2354	4666
Memphis/#11	2301	2340	4641
UT Martin/#19	1713	1746	3459
UT Martin (women only)	1119	1137	2256

Memphis Individuals	Smallbore	Air Rifle	Aggregate
Makennon Doran	586	590	1176
Haylea Broughton*%	577	592	1169
Amy Fister*%	582	581	1163
Leighton Dempster*%	569	586	1155
Levi Clark*%	573	581	1154
Jack Berhorst	568	584	1152
Amberlie Ezell	564	581	1145
Abby Votava	552	586	1138
Eli Rischling	560	566	1126