Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
2026 OVC Rifle Championship
Champs Again - Rifle Claims Sixth Consecutive OVC Crown
2/8/2026 2:28:00 PM | Rifle
Lollar ties Milkman with 12th OVC Title
The Murray State Racers recorded scores of 2314 in smallbore and 2373 in air rifle for an aggregate of 4687 to win the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in Martin, Tenn., on Saturday and Sunday.
The Racers defeated OVC foes Morehead State and UT Martin, who fired scores of 4669 and 4599, respectively.
The Racers have now won 20 OVC championships in rifle, and head coach Alan Lollar ties Velvet Milkman for most conference titles as a Murray State head coach with 12.
On Day 1 of the championship, the Racers put a 2314 in smallbore, ahead of the 2292 from UT Martin but behind Morehead State after the Eagles posted a 2318. Freshman Lea Soulé led the Racers on Day 1 with a second-place 584, and Carlotta Salafia was the only other Racer in the top five with a fourth-place 580. Caroline Martin and Abby Ballard placed eighth and ninth with scores of 576 and 574, and Caroline Martin placed 11th after shooting a 573.
The Racers came through on Day 2 with a score of 2373 in air rifle, led by a second-place 597 from Salafia. Emma Lawrence finished right behind in third with a 595, while Caroline Martin and Lea Soulé rounded out the top five with a 594 and a 587. Freshman Abby Ballard fired a 585, claiming eighth individually.
The full OVC All-Conference teams are as follows:
2026 OVC Rifle All-Conference Teams
Air Rifle Athlete of the Year: Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
Smallbore Athlete of the Year: Lea Soulé, Murray State
Freshman of the Year: Lea Soulé, Murray State
Coach of the Year: Alan Lollar, Murray State
Air Rifle First Team
Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
Caroline Martin, Murray State
Hayden Bell, Morehead State
Emma Lawrence, Murray State
Lea Soulé, Murray State
Smallbore First Team
Trey Meyers, Morehead State
Lea Soulé, Murray State
Hayden Bell, Morehead State
Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
Joey Kovach, UT Martin
Air Rifle Second Team
Adrianna Beard, Morehead State
Abby Ballard, Murray State
Trey Myers, Morehead State
Joey Kovach, UT Martin
Hannah Goin, Morehead State
Smallbore Second Team
Adrianna Beard, Morehead State
Chloe Shannon, Morehead State
Caroline Martin, Murray State
Abby Ballard, Murray State
Sophia Ashford, UT Martin
Air Rifle All-Newcomer Team
Hannah Goin, Morehead State
Abby Ballard, Murray State
Lea Soulé, Murray State
Sophia Ashford, UT Martin
Olivia Harvey, UT Martin
Smallbore All-Newcomer Team
Abby Ballard, Murray State
Lea Soulé, Murray State
Sophia Ashford, UT Martin
Olivia Harvey, UT Martin
The Racers now look ahead to a match at Memphis on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 9 a.m. CT.
Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics), and Facebook to stay up to date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State Rifle on Twitter and Instagram (@RacersRifle).
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