Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Nebraska
Players Mentioned
Racers Come Up Big In NCAA Qualifier
2/18/2018 2:39:00 PM | Rifle
Match Overview
The Murray State rifle team tentatively qualified for the 2018 NCAA Championships by defeating Nebraska, 4710-4672, in the NCAA Qualifier at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range in Murray, Kentucky. The 4710 completed Murray State's qualification score and placed them third nationally, well within the eight-team field that will be officially announced Wednesday.
Smallbore
Ben Estes led MSU with a career-best 589, propelling his team to a season-high smallbore score of 2343. Ivan Roe and Barbara Schläpfer followed with a 585, while Robert Broadstreet rounded out the counters at 584.
Air Rifle
The Racers posted a 2367 in air rifle and were led by MacKenzie Martin, who shot a 593. Roe and Broadstreet were next for the Racers at 592, while Schläpfer fired a 590. Two other Racers had season bests in the match with Alathea Sellars shooting a 591 and Eric Sloan turning in a 581.
Aggregate
Roe, Broadstreet, Estes and Schläpfer all finished within two points of each other in aggregate scoring with Roe at 1177, Broadstreet and Estes at 1176 and Schläpfer at 1175. Martin followed closely behind in the match at 1174, while Sellars turned in a season-best 1173.
Coach Lollar On The Match
On The Match As A Whole:
"I was very pleased with our performance this weekend.  I thought all five on the counting team did a good job. Our 2343 smallbore score was shot in a balanced fashion. I like when everyone is doing what they normally do and we get the good team score. Ben obviously had a big smallbore day. He really set the stage for a big day, and the team took advantage of it. We struggled a little in air, but I was pleased with the way we did not give in to adversity and came out pretty good. Dana overcame some adversity to show real toughness and Alathea had a solid match, her best overall match of the year. Shelby was about ten shots away from having a really big day and Eric has continued to improve and become more consistent."
On Qualifying For The NCAA Championship For A Fourth Consecutive Year:
It is a compliment to the hard work and  commitment this team has put in. It speaks to what we call "The Murray State Way", a standard of performance we hold ourselves to in everything we do.Â
On What Broadstreet, Estes, and Roe Have Meant To The Program Over The Last Four Years:
"I really have a hard time explaining what they have meant to our program. They came in together, bought into the process and showed what can be done when we believe in ourselves and each other. They have built a foundation for the future, but we aren't yet done with the present."
Season Bests
SMALLBORE: Team – 2343; Ben Estes – (589); Ivan Roe – 585
AIR RIFLE: Alathea Sellars – 591; Eric Sloan – 581
AGGREGATE: Alathea Sellars – 1173
Parentheses indicates score is also a career-high; * indicates score is a team season-high; ^ indicates a program-record.
Up Next
While the Racers have tentatively qualified for the 2018 NCAA Championship, it will not become official until the selection show airs on Wednesday at 4 p.m. on NCAA.com. The 2018 NCAA Rifle Championships will take place March 9-10 at the MacAlister Field House on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.
