RENO, Nev. – After knocking off No. 5 Ohio State at home last week, the University of Nevada rifle team hosts No. 20 UTEP in a Patriot Rifle Conference match this weekend.  The Wolf Pack moved up five spots in the latest Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association poll to No. 8 after the victory over the Buckeyes. 
 
The smallbore will be contested on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the range located north of Peccole Park, Nevada's baseball field on the east side of campus.  Sunday's air rifle will take place starting at 9 a.m. at the Pack rifle range located on the second floor in the Nevada Genomics Center at 910 Valley Road. 
 
This will be the second meeting of the season with UTEP as the Pack won 4677-4581 in El Paso to open the season back on Sept. 30.  The 4677 was a historic score for Nevada, establishing a new school record.
 
"We look forward to shooting with UTEP," head coach Fred Harvey said.  "They are a young well coached team that is steadily improving. They will challenge us."
 
The Pack will once again be led by a veteran crew that includes seniors Emily Capaul and Justin Nissen along with junior Mitchell Van Patten.  A pair of sophomores Rachel Benesh and Eli Larimer round out the top five.  Senior Sarah Jameson one the team's top shooters the past three seasons has yet to compete because of an injury.
 
Van Patten, Benesh and Nissen have all shot a 591 in air rifle which is tied for the top score on the team.  Van Patten also holds the top score in smallbore (585) and aggregate (1176) which combines the two events.
 
Nissen who has had an outstanding start to his senior season has 583 in smallbore that ranks second on the team and his 1171 aggregate score is third.
 
Last weekend Benesh posted her 591 in air rifle that was tops in the OSU match.  Her 582 in smallbore is third on the team and 1173 aggregate score also coming against OSU is second.
 
Capaul ranks fourth in air rifle (589) and aggregate (1165) while her 576 in smallbore is fifth.  Larimer boasts the fourth best smallbore score of 577.  His 585 air rifle and 1162 aggregate both rank fifth on the Pack.