After finishing last season ranked ninth in the final polls, just one spot shy of advancing to the NCAA Championships, the NC State rifle team begins the 2017-18 season this weekend with a determined mindset to be among the top eight teams in the nation.

The Wolfpack starts its quest towards that goal this weekend when it travels to The Citadel for matches on Saturday and Sunday inside McAlister Field House. NC State kicks off the season in the same manner it did a year ago with a Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) match with top-ranked West Virginia.

Also joining the two teams in competition Saturday is No. 20 North Georgia, fifth-ranked Ohio State and the host Bulldogs. Sunday the Pack will take on No. 6 Nebraska and 12th-ranked Ole Miss.

This weekend's matches are part of an NCAA Test Match, as members of the NCAA Rifle Committee will be present to assess the facilities and setup in advance of the 2018 NCAA Championships hosted by The Citadel.

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.@packrifle comes away from opening weekend with wins over 2 ranked teams - No. 6 Nebraska & No. 20 North Georgia.

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Just 1 more day until our HOME OPENER against Akron inside Reynolds Coliseum...see you TOMORROW #WPN!

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No. 12 NC State rifle recorded a season-high score of 4656 to earn a Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) victory against the 10th-ranked Akron Zips Saturday afternoon inside Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack tallied its best score of the year in the smallbore competition with a 2313 clip and a 2343 in air rifle to compile its aggregate total.

Akron shot a 2297 in smallbore and a 2345 in air rifle to accumulate its overall score of 4642.

NC State moves to 5-4 on the year and 2-2 in GARC action, while Akron falls to 2-2 and 1-2 in conference matches.

Up Next

NC State returns to action Saturday, Nov. 11, when the squad travels to The Citadel for a match with the Bulldogs.

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Recap - No. 11 Rifle Fires Season High in Win at The Citadel https://t.co/NO3GBMEqrQ

Has anyone ever been to one of these matches? Thought about taking the kids to see it just to keep them from destroying the house. Wasn't sure if it was a spectator type sport though.

Some matches are not open to the public, but yes, we have been. Depends on the kids. It can be interesting if you have an idea of what you're watching. You can get in and out if you need to, but generally try to keep voices down. It's not an event where you cheer.

There have been some you could watch online and even on television. Might want to check for one of those first, preferably at Reynolds, where you can kind of get an idea of how things go. They shoot at their own pace, so you may have one shooter firing while the one next to them is adjusting their rifle for the next position. They're generally pretty good at tuning out, and some wear headphones, but spectators need to be unobtrusive.

Looks like the match this Sunday is open to the public, and the last chance for this season. You could check it out. If they're restless, there are plenty of exhibits to see around the concourse.

ICYMI - @packrifle took down North Georgia in its final home match of the season.

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After nearly a two-month break in action, the 13th-ranked NC State rifle team is set to open its 2018 calendar slate in West Point, N.Y., this weekend. The Wolfpack will take on No. 3 Kentucky Sunday and the host No. 11 Army Black Knights Monday.

Both matches are slated to get underway at 9 a.m. inside the Tronsrue Marksmanship Center.

#13 Pack Rifle defeated #11 Army at West Point today.

http://gopack.com/news/2018/1/15/no-13-nc-state-rifle-takes-down-no-11-army-in-new-york.aspx#.Wl0P5zOgIv8.twitter

Shooting better than Army is a nice start to the new year.

The No. 11 NC State rifle team posted a season-best score in the air rifle, but was shaky in the smallbore
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It's #MatchDay! Just a few minutes until we begin competing against Wofford at 9 a.m. inside the Taylor Center Rifle Range in Spartanburg, S.C.

Follow live here - https://t.co/kjKuue5TiR

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No. 11 NC State rifle put together a strong performance in its final dual match of the season to earn a convincing 4645-4381 win against the Wofford Terriers Sunday morning inside the Taylor Center Rifle Range.

The Wolfpack recorded a team score of 2318 in smallbore and a 2327 in air rifle to compile its overall score, while the Terriers fired a 2158 in smallbore and a 2223 in air rifle.

NC State improves to 11-7 on the year with the non-conference victory, while Wofford falls to 2-12.

Smallbore Notes
- Sophomore Kendra Jacobs logged the best score of the day in the smallbore competition with a mark of 584 to finish first.
- Lauren Phillips, a graduate student from Seabeck, Wash., claimed second in the event with a score of 583 headlined by a perfect first series in the prone position.
- Sophomore Zach Eisenberg turned in the third-highest result with a 578 and earned a perfect 100 on his second series in prone.
- Claire Zanti recorded a 573 to take fourth and Will Marciniak was the Wolfpack's final counting shooter with a score of 568.
- NC State achieved a team score of 2318 in smallbore, the third best of the season.

Air Rifle Notes
- The Wolfpack had a tough day in the air rifle competition, as its score of 2327 was below its season average.
- Zanti led all shooters in the event with a score of 584, highlighted by scores of 99 on her second and fourth series.
- Phillips and Eisenberg each registered a 582 to finish in a tie for second.
- Claire Spina only competed in air rifle and fired a score of 579.
- Jacobs rounded out the lineup, contributing a mark of 575.

Aggregate Notes
- NC State shooters claimed the top four spots in the overall individual standings, as Phillips' total of 1165 led the way.
- Eisenberg was second with an 1160 and Jacobs was third with an 1159.
- Zanti's score of 1157 was good for fourth.

Up Next
NC State returns to action Saturday, Feb. 17, when the Wolfpack travels to Morgantown, W. Va., for the NCAA Qualifier / NRA Sectional hosted by West Virginia.

The 11th-ranked NC State rifle team travels to Morgantown, W. Va. this weekend to compete in an NCAA Qualifier Match along with top-ranked West Virginia. Competition is set to start at 10 a.m. at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range. The match is also a NRA Sectional.

NC State heads into the match with an 11-7 overall record, including a 3-5 mark in Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) matches.

The Wolfpack is eager to post a top score to advance to the NCAA Championships. NC State's score from the match will be added to its three-match average for the season to determine if it will be among the top-eight teams nationally to earn a trip to the NCAA Championships in Charleston, S.C., on March 9-10.

Leading the team, Kendra Jacobs and Lauren Phillips will need to post strong aggregate to propel the Pack to victory. Both Jacobs and Phillips have continuously led the team in both air-rifle and smallbore scores throughout the season.

Following the qualifier, the Wolfpack will head to Akron, Ohio to compete in the GARC Championships on February 25 & 26.

http://gopack.com/news/2018/2/17/no-11-wolfpack-rifle-concludes-action-at-ncaa-qualifier-match.aspx#.WojBokYvAp0.twitter

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. The 11th-ranked NC State rifle team turned in an aggregate score of 4632 at the NCAA Qualifier Match Saturday afternoon inside the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range on the West Virginia University campus.

The Wolfpack will now await the NCAA Selection Show on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. to learn if it has been selected to the eight-team NCAA Championship field. The show will be streamed live on the NCAA.com.

NC State's score will be added to the Pack's ranking average, which is based on the team's top-three scores fired at three different venues, to determine the team's NCAA qualifying mark.

EXCITING NEWS!

Congratulations to graduate student Lauren Phillips, who has been selected to compete in smallbore at the NCAA Championships

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#STATEment https://t.co/AKUq7mxubn

.@packrifle will seek its first GARC Championship this weekend
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After winning the individual title in the smallbore competition last season, NC State rifle graduate student Lauren Phillips advanced to the finals and finished third in smallbore at the Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships Saturday afternoon at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the Shell Building.

The Seabeck, Wash., native has finished among the top three in the event at the conference championships three times, as she also won the competition as a freshman. As a team, 11th-ranked NC State compiled a team score of 2308, which was the fourth-best score on the day.

Phillips' score of 582 led the way for the Wolfpack, as she tallied a score of 99 on her first series in prone and a perfect 100 on her second series. Sophomore Kendra Jacobs had the next-best score with a 579 clip, while Will Marciniak shot a 578 with a perfect first series of prone.

Claire Zanti and Zach Eisenberg rounded out the NC State lineup with scores of 569 and 559. Eisenberg also tallied a perfect first series in prone. Claire Spina also saw action in the event and fired a mark of 577 with a score of 100 on her first series in prone.

West Virginia paced the field in smallbore with a score of 2333, while Kentucky was second with a 2319. Navy was third with a 2315 and Nebraska finished behind NC State in fifth with a 2306. Army was sixth (2293), Akron was seventh (2292), Memphis eighth (2291) and Ole Miss ninth (2289).

The awards were also announced at the championships, as Phillips was named a Second Team All-GARC Selection in smallbore and Jacobs was an Honorable Mention in the event. In air rifle, Phillips was a second team honoree.

In the combined awards, Phillips was tabbed a second team selection and Jacobs was an honorable mention. Spina was awarded NC State's Scholar Athlete recipient.

The teams return to the range Sunday morning at 7:45 a.m. for the air rifle competition.

Lauren Phillips will represent @packrifle at the NCAA Championships this afternoon!

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Phillips is on the firing line now!

Follow along here https://t.co/tnrJFgZyAc https://t.co/PGkfltxAri

NC State's Lauren Phillips concluded her collegiate career with a strong performance at the NCAA Rifle Championships on Friday, as she finished 12th in the individual standings of the smallbore competition held inside McAlister Field House on The Citadel's campus.

She fired a score of 582, just two points shy of advancing to the finals session in smallbore.