DAHLONEGA, Ga. -- Hitting the road for the first time in over a month, the Virginia Military Institute mixed rifle team, ranked 23rd in last week's Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association polls, fell to 19th-ranked University of North Georgia 4,561-4,437 on Saturday at UNG's Col. Raymond C. Hamilton Rifle Range.
The Keydets (3-6) got a strong performance from Jeremy Bolden, particularly on the smallbore side as the senior shot a 573 out of a possible 600, bolstered by a 199 out of 200 in the kneeling position. Andrew Hickey turned in a 542 while Matt Lusardi fired a 538. Zach Johnson rounded out the smallbore scoring with a 534.
Bolden once again led VMI in the air rifle scoring, posting a 565, edging out teammate Connor Sullivan, who shot a 564. Loran Dreelin put through a 563 while Kristen Voss had the final scoring total with a 558 for air rifle.
Three Nighthawks shot in the 570s on air rifle, paced by a 579 from Morgan Tritt. Ruthanne Conner and Heather Johnson shot a 578 and a 570, respectively. Darren Kasl fired a 563 for the fourth score on air rifle. In smallbore, Heather Johnson shot a day-high 580, followed by a 569 from Conner and a 564 from Tritt. Matt Settele shot a 558 for the fourth and final mark.
VMI continues to shoot away from home on Nov. 15 as the Keydets head to Morehead, Ky. for a match against Morehead State University, which was ranked 18th in last week's CRCA poll. Action is set to begin in the morning at Morehead State's Button Range.
