FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The 17th ranked University of Nevada rifle team defeated No. 18 UTEP 4647-4565 in a match held in Fairbanks, Alaska on Thursday prior to the start of the Patriot Rifle Conference Championship that are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.  The Wolf Pack improved to 4-2 on the season with the victory.
 
The PRC Championship begins with the smallbore on Saturday and the air rifle is set for Sunday.  Both days start at 10 a.m.
 
The Pack won the air rifle 2301-2258 taking the top five spots in the event.  Senior Mitchell Van Patten and junior Eli Larimer led the way with scores of 589.  Alec Patajo was third with a 585 followed by Nadine Ahola and Rachel Benesh who both shot 583. Andrew Pham posted a 574 to place ninth.
 
In the smallbore the Pack were victorious 2346-2307 with the top three shooters in the discipline.  Van Patten posted the top score with a 582, Ahola was second shooting 577 and Patajo third with a score of 576.  Pham posted a 570 to place fifth and give Nevada four competitors in the top five.  Larimer was seventh with his 566 and Benesh ninth with a 563.
 
Four Pack shooters posted the top aggregate scores which combines the two events.  Van Patten posted the top score once again with his 1171 followed by Patajo (1161), Ahola (1160), and Larimer (1155).  Benesh was sixth with her 1146 and Pham earned eighth shooting an aggregate score of 1144.