No. 4 Kentucky rifle (4-0, 2-2) defeated No. 11 Ole Miss (3-3, 0-1) 4,740-4,714 to extend its stellar start to the 2024–25 season.

Kentucky’s 4,740 team aggregate score was the highest of the season and one of the top nationally. The Wildcats’ strong performance was fueled by a season-best smallbore team score and their second-highest air rifle team score of the year.

Sophomore Braden Peiser led the Wildcats with an aggregate score of 1,188 and 89 centers. Junior Sofia Ceccarello also had an overall score of 1,188, but only 88 centers, so she took second. Freshman Liz Probst was celebrating a birthday on match day and earned third place with a score of 1,183 and 86 centers. Junior Martin Voss and true freshman Sam Adkins completed Kentucky’s top five.

The Wildcats’ commanding smallbore performance established the game’s tone. The team’s 2,356 score ranked fifth in the country. Peiser led the discipline with a 592. Ceccarello completed her smallbore performance just behind with a 589. Voss scored 195 in kneeling, 198 in prone and 195 in standing to put up a 588. 

Kentucky continued its momentum in air rifle, posting a 2,384-team score. Ceccarello highlighted the team’s performance with a 599, her first of the season. Peiser and Probst both ended with 596. Adkins closed out the scoring with a 593, including 48 centers, as Voss attained a 589 with 41 centers.

Ole Miss was led by Gracie Dinh, who scored an 1,183 aggregate. Three other Ole Miss athletes posted 1,177 aggregates. M’Leah Lambdin posted a 589 in smallbore and a 595 in air rifle from Lea Horvath.

After a week off, Kentucky will wrap up its fall schedule with a tri-match against Army and Murray State on Nov. 16, followed by two matches in Colorado Springs against Akron and Air Force on Nov. 23 and 24, respectively.