COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The seventh ranked University of Nevada rifle team dropped a pair of matches the opening weekend of the season to No. 5 Air Force and No. 19 UTEP.  Air Force posted a score of 4702 while UTEP shot 4594 and the Wolf Pack 4589.  Nevada travels to UTEP next Saturday.
 
Senior Mitchell Van Patten posted the best scores for Nevada the opening weekend shooting 578 in smallbore to place fifth, was ninth in air rifle with a 585 and his aggregate score of 1163 placed eighth.
 
Sophomore Nadine Ahola, making her first appearance in the varsity lineup shot 583 in air rifle to take 11^th and posted a 563 in smallbore to finished 18^th.  Freshman Sara Benesh was 13^th in the air rifle with 582 and did not compete in smallbore.
 
Junior Rachel Benesh was 17^th in smallbore with a score of 564 and 24^th in air rifle shooting 573.  Two more freshman Alex Patajo was 20^th in air rifle with a score of 577 and Tio Brody took 23rd in smallbore with a score of 556.