Rifle Preview: Navy

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis rifle team returns home to host Navy at the R.F. Fogelman Rifle Range Saturday. The match begins at 8 a.m. (CT).

Saturday's encounter versus Navy starts a three-match homestand for the Tigers. Following Saturday's match against the Mids, Memphis hosts NC State Oct. 27 and defending NCAA champion Kentucky Oct. 28.

Despite last weekend's two road setbacks at Army West Point and West Virginia, the Tigers dropped only one spot in the College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) poll to No. 15. Memphis was No. 14 in last week's poll.

Rank	Team	Rank	Team
1.	Kentucky	t.	Morehead State
2.	Air Force	t.	Ohio State
3.	West Virginia	13.	Ole Miss
4.	TCU	14.	Army
5.	Alaska	*15.*	*Memphis*
6.	Murray State	16.	Jacksonville State
7.	Navy	17.	UTEP
8.	NC State	18.	Nevada
9.	Nebraska	19.	UAB
10.	Akron	20.	UT Martin

Tigers Tidbits

All three opponents in Memphis' three-match homestand are ranked in the nation's top 10. Saturday's foe, Navy, is No. 7. Next weekend's two opponents are No. 1 Kentucky and No. 8 NC State.
This is the second-straight season Navy, NC State and Kentucky are visiting the Tigers. Memphis hosted all three teams last season in the Tigers' first full campaign of competing at the R.F. Fogelman Rifle Range.
Memphis fell to Navy in the Tiger Open last season. The match was the 2017-18 season opener for both programs.
Last season's match versus Navy also was the collegiate head coaching debut for Tigers mentor Dan Hermsmeier.
In last year's match against Navy, Leighton Dempster tied a then-career high 591 in air rifle. Later in 2017-18, Dempster improved on that score (593), and just last weekend versus Army West Point, she tied the school record – and set a career-high – in the discipline with a 596 score.

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Players Mentioned

Leighton Dempster

University of Memphis Athletics