ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The eighth-ranked Navy rifle team (8-6, 3-3 GARC) began the 2020 portion of its team slate by upsetting sixth-ranked Ole Miss (3-4, 1-4 GARC), 4,677-4,676, on Friday at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range. The Midshipmen's total score of 4,677 points set a new season-high as they moved their NCAA qualification average to 4,672, which currently ranks sixth in the country.
 
Along with its season-best in overall scoring, Navy posted a season-high in smallbore with a score of 2,317 points. The Midshipmen's 2,360 in air rifle ranks third-best this season and is just four points shy of tying their season-high.
 
"We had a really good match today against a tough Ole Miss team," head coach Mike Anti commented after the match. "After smallbore, we were down three points to Ole Miss with both teams shooting very solid smallbore scores. Following the first 30 shots in air rifle, Ole Miss extended its lead but our athletes had an outstanding finish in air rifle and edged out Ole Miss by a point.
 
"I am extremely proud of our team's strong finish. This is something we had not been doing in past matches, so it is great to see their hard work pay off. This was our highest score of the season and we hope to better that score against Nebraska on Sunday."
 
The Navy pair of Torrance Kang (Jr., Columbia, Md.) and Kestrel Kuhne (Sr., Everett, Pa.) led the Midshipmen and had the top-two scores in the field. Kang led all individuals with an aggregate score of 1,173 to set a new season-best. Kuhne fired her second-best score of the season with a total of 1,172 points.
 
In smallbore, Kang led the field with a season-high 584 and she also tied her personal best in the discipline. Kuhne fired a 581 and Gabriella Mayes (So., Rio Rancho, N.M.) finished with 577 points. Navy's final counting score in the event came from Michael Zanti (So., Norfolk, Va.) after recording a 575.
 
Following smallbore, the Midshipmen trailed the Rebels by three points after they shot a 2,320 to tie their best smallbore team score of the year.
 
Kuhne shot the second-best score in the field during air rifle on Friday after racking up 591 points to pace Navy in the event. Between the two teams, seven shooters scored at least 590 points in air rifle en route to both teams shooting season-high overall scores. Mark Amdahl (So., Albuquerque, N.M.) and Mayes each finished one point behind Kuhne with matching 590s. Mayes has now scored at least 590 points in the discipline in her last five outings. Kang just missed the 590 mark and scored 589 points in air rifle, which ties her third-best score of the season.
 
Ole Miss compiled an air rifle team score of 2,356 and the Midshipmen completed the come-from-behind win to edge the Rebels by one point. Ole Miss also fired a season-high in overall scoring with a total of 4,676 points and the Rebels are just ahead of Navy in the NCAA qualification standings with a three-score average of 4,674.3. Individually, Abby Buesseler led Ole Miss with an aggregate mark of 1,172 points and a score of 584 in smallbore. Jillian Zakrzeski paced both teams in air rifle with a total of 593 as a non-starter. 
 
Navy continues its homestand on Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. as the Midshipmen host No. 9 Nebraska at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range.