Story by NU Athletic Communications
The No. 8 Nebraska rifle team qualified for the 2024 NCAA Championships, as the NCAA announced the eight-team field Monday evening.
The Huskers will face off against West Virginia, TCU, Air Force, Kentucky, Alaska-Fairbanks, Ole Miss and Navy. The 2024 NCAA Championships take place in Morgantown, W.Va, on Friday-Saturday, March 8-9.
“NCAAs will be exciting for the team,” Head Coach Mindy Miles said. “This season has been extremely competitive for the entire sport. We are one of the top programs in the NCAA. As with any match, any team can win and we will make a run for it.”
NU will make its second straight appearance under Miles and 20th appearance since becoming a varsity program in 1998. The Huskers’ qualifying score was based on its score from qualifiers last weekend and their top three regular-season scores at different locations throughout the season.
Nebraska returns an experienced roster as four shooters - seniors Cecelia Ossi and Madelynn Erickson, junior Mackenzie Strauch and sophomore Emma Rhode - all helped the Huskers to a sixth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA Championships.
Ossi, a four-time All-American, claimed the national title in smallbore in 2023 and will be looking to continue her success. Erickson (2023 CRCA Honorable Mention Smallbore) and Rhode (2023 CRCA Second-Team Air Rifle) are also returning All-Americans for the Huskers.
The Big Red has faced five out of its seven opponents so far this season – West Virginia, TCU, Air Force, Kentucky and Alaska-Fairbanks.