ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Following an off week during the second week of the season, the seventh-ranked Navy rifle team (1-1, 0-0 GARC) is back in action on Saturday morning as it opens its GARC slate against No. 13 Memphis (0-0, 0-0 GARC) at 8:30 a.m. in the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range.
 
The Midshipmen split their season-opening event two weeks ago after beating VMI 4,664-4,514 but dropping a 4,699-4,664 contest to defending national champion TCU – who is currently ranked fourth in the country.
 
Against TCU and VMI during the opening week of the season for Navy, senior captain Kestrel Kuhne led the Midshipmen with an aggregate score of 1,169, which was fifth overall in the field. Kuhne fired a team-high 584 in smallbore to place third in the field in the discipline. Gabriella Mayes finished with a career-high 1,164 to finish sixth overall and shot a personal best of 580 in smallbore. Michael Zanti had the highest air rifle score for Navy after posting a 592 to place third among all shooters in the event.
 
Last season in GARC matches, the Midshipmen posted a 5-3 record to finish third in the league behind West Virginia and Kentucky – who have each won a national championship in the last three seasons. Navy's three league losses came at home against Kentucky and on the road against West Virginia and Nebraska. Each of the three were ranked in the top 10 at the time they took on Navy, including top five billings from Kentucky and West Virginia.
 
Memphis is set to return to action for the first time in three weeks after beating UT-Martin at the Tiger Open to start the season. The Tigers posted a scored of 4,650 at the event with Levi Clark leading the way with a score of 1,170 points. Clark fired a team-high in smallbore and was second in air rifle with scores of 583 and 587, respectively. Taylor Gibson was just behind with a 1,167 overall in her collegiate debut. Gibson first shot a 579 in smallbore and then bested Clark in air rifle with a 588. At the GARC Championships last season, Memphis placed eighth overall in the field with a total score of 4,643 points.
 
In the 2018 meeting between Memphis and Navy, the Midshipmen edged a 15th-ranked Tiger squad by a score of 4,660-4,639 on the road. Mark Amdahl posted a team-best 1,167 over the two events and he fired a 589 in air rifle in just his third collegiate event. Mayes fired a 591 in air rifle to lead the Midshipmen to a 2,351 mark in air rifle. 
 
All-time, Memphis holds a 4-2 edge against Navy but the Midshipmen have won the last two meetings with Mike Anti as head coach of the program.