ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy rifle team improved its early-season record to 4-0 on Saturday by picking up victories over the United States Coast Guard Academy and the University of Sciences in a tri-team meet. A strong showing in smallbore helped the Mids (4-0) turn in a final result of 4,625 points to defeat the Bears (4,436) of USCGA and the Devils (4,332) of USP at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range.

"This was a solid showing for us today," remarked head coach Bill Kelley. "I was quite pleased with the improvement that we showed in smallbore. Six of the eight shooters that we had participate in smallbore scored at 570 or above, that is really something great to see. Our air rifle effort was significantly weaker than last week, but we were also shooting at a near school record pace last weekend so some fall off could be expected. We have to make sure we're closer to that 2,352 total than today's 2,330, dropping 22 points is something we will definitely look to improve upon."

For the second straight competition, freshman Amy Hammer (Central City, Pa.) led the Mids with a match-high aggregate of 1,164. The first-year marksman totaled a 577 in smallbore before rounding off her day with a 587 in air rifle. Both marks were number one in the match.

Three more Navy shooters in the starting lineup turned in smallbore scores in the 570's as Alex Muzzioli (Fr., Tiverton, R.I.) posted a 575 to rank second, while Josh Watson (So, Enterprise, Ala.) came in two points behind at 573. Daniel Jonas (Sr., Allentown, N.J.) was the Mids' fourth counter with a 570-point effort to give Navy a grand total of 2,295 in the three-position event. That mark was a 12-point improvement from last week.

In non-counting action, both Thomas Sarant (Jr., Massapequa, N.Y.) and Nash Richardson (So., Rhodesdale, Md.) turned in identical 572 scores.

In air rifle, the Mids recorded a 2,330 result on the strength of three 580's and a 578. Hammer's 587 led the way with Jonas coming in right behind at 585. Sarant followed up his career-best air rifle performance last weekend with another solid outing with a 580 on Saturday. Watson was Navy's fourth counter at 578.

Muzzioli was Navy's highest non-counter in air rifle as the plebe shot a 579.

"Overall, we're really putting together a squad that is making things happen," said Kelley. "I was pleased with how we recovered after a tough start in air rifle and gritted it out to keep chasing points. That's the sign of maturity and mental toughness. We received contributions from across all four classes today. Our plebes were especially impressive in smallbore with three of them in our starting lineup."

The Mids have a quick turnaround as they will be back on the line at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range on Sunday morning. Navy begins conference action on Sunday when it hosts No. 10 Memphis in a competition starting at 9 a.m.