University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, November 12
Columbus, Ohio
University of Memphis
at
Buckeye Open
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Tigers Rifle To Shoot In Buckeye Open Saturday
Nov 11, 2016 | Rifle
Memphis one of five ranked teams in the event.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After shooting at No. 1 West Virginia Nov. 5, the University of Memphis rifle team continues its stretch of facing ranked foes when it travels to Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Nov. 12. The Tigers are shooting in the fourth-annual Dr. John C. Fellingham Buckeye Open.
Memphis, ranked No. 12 in this week's Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) poll, is one of five ranked teams shooting at the event, which is being held at Ohio State's Hugh W. Wylie Range. Joining Memphis at the Buckeye Open are host school and No. 6 Ohio State, No. 3 Murray State, No. 9 N.C. State and No. 11 Nevada.
Saturday's event also will serve as a Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) match versus league foe N.C. State. The Tigers defeated the Wolfpack 4643-4635 in Jacksonville, Ala., last season.
Memphis has performed well against nationally-ranked opposition so far this season. The Tigers have an 11-3 record against opponents ranked in the CRCA poll. Included in those 11 victories are road wins at No. 13 Army and No. 16 Navy in mid-October.
In addition, Memphis has a 5-1 mark against GARC foes, including the road victories at Navy and Army. The other three GARC wins were over No. 14 Akron and No. 9 Ole Miss twice.
Despite last weekend's GARC loss to top-ranked West Virginia, head coach Butch Woolbright saw some positives and looks for his squad to build on those.
"We didn't have a bad performance at West Virginia last Saturday," said Woolbright. "We shot some good scores, but, like all coaches, I wish we could have shot better. We learned some things about our team last time out."
One reason for Woolbright's positive outlook is how the freshman trio of Levi Clark, Amberlie Ezell and Abby Votava are improving weekly. Clark continues to shoot well early in his freshman campaign and posted a season-best 1171 aggregate score versus the Mountaineers. Ezell shot a 96 in standing smallbore, which, according to Woolbright, is nearly a world-class score. Votava shot a personal-best 570 in smallbore (570) last Saturday.
"The freshman are coming on," Woolbright said. "I was pleased with Abby's and Amberlie's scores last week, and Levi continues to tear it up in the early part of the season.
"I'm looking for more consistency, but I was impressed with them. They really performed well."
Saturday's match also is a rehearsal for the 2017 NCAA Championships, which are set to take place at the same venue in March. Last November, Memphis shot in a similar event at the University of Akron and placed seventh of 12 schools. At last season's NCAA Championships Rehearsal, Leighton Dempster posted a season-high 1166 aggregate score (578-588).
"This is a good match to shoot in because of the competition and it gives you a trial run shooting at the NCAA Championships site," said Woolbright. "One of the reasons they host an event like this is to make sure all the systems are working properly and there is enough room for spectators for the NCAA Championships in March."
Memphis, ranked No. 12 in this week's Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) poll, is one of five ranked teams shooting at the event, which is being held at Ohio State's Hugh W. Wylie Range. Joining Memphis at the Buckeye Open are host school and No. 6 Ohio State, No. 3 Murray State, No. 9 N.C. State and No. 11 Nevada.
Saturday's event also will serve as a Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) match versus league foe N.C. State. The Tigers defeated the Wolfpack 4643-4635 in Jacksonville, Ala., last season.
Memphis has performed well against nationally-ranked opposition so far this season. The Tigers have an 11-3 record against opponents ranked in the CRCA poll. Included in those 11 victories are road wins at No. 13 Army and No. 16 Navy in mid-October.
In addition, Memphis has a 5-1 mark against GARC foes, including the road victories at Navy and Army. The other three GARC wins were over No. 14 Akron and No. 9 Ole Miss twice.
Despite last weekend's GARC loss to top-ranked West Virginia, head coach Butch Woolbright saw some positives and looks for his squad to build on those.
"We didn't have a bad performance at West Virginia last Saturday," said Woolbright. "We shot some good scores, but, like all coaches, I wish we could have shot better. We learned some things about our team last time out."
One reason for Woolbright's positive outlook is how the freshman trio of Levi Clark, Amberlie Ezell and Abby Votava are improving weekly. Clark continues to shoot well early in his freshman campaign and posted a season-best 1171 aggregate score versus the Mountaineers. Ezell shot a 96 in standing smallbore, which, according to Woolbright, is nearly a world-class score. Votava shot a personal-best 570 in smallbore (570) last Saturday.
"The freshman are coming on," Woolbright said. "I was pleased with Abby's and Amberlie's scores last week, and Levi continues to tear it up in the early part of the season.
"I'm looking for more consistency, but I was impressed with them. They really performed well."
Saturday's match also is a rehearsal for the 2017 NCAA Championships, which are set to take place at the same venue in March. Last November, Memphis shot in a similar event at the University of Akron and placed seventh of 12 schools. At last season's NCAA Championships Rehearsal, Leighton Dempster posted a season-high 1166 aggregate score (578-588).
"This is a good match to shoot in because of the competition and it gives you a trial run shooting at the NCAA Championships site," said Woolbright. "One of the reasons they host an event like this is to make sure all the systems are working properly and there is enough room for spectators for the NCAA Championships in March."
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, October 25
Wednesday, October 18
Wednesday, November 02
Thursday, March 11