COLLEGE STATION -- The top-ranked Texas A&M equestrian team travels to Fresno, Calif., to open the 2017-18 season against No. 9 Fresno State Friday at 12:00 p.m. and South Dakota State Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Student Horse Center.
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"This is an early meet compared to other seasons," head coach Tana McKay said. "I feel comfortable with our upperclassmen who are coming back. It has been two years since we've been to Fresno so we will see some horses that we haven't seen. I expect our underclassmen to step up to the occasion as well. I am excited that Fresno State offered to host an extra meet for us so we can have a neutral site meet against South Dakota State. We get to face two Aggies and that is always fun. I am looking forward to that."
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The Aggies, who return 10 starters and four NCEA All-Americans from last year's team, have not faced Fresno State since their 2015-16 campaign when they defeated the Bulldogs 9-9 (1412.5-1383) in a tiebreaker in California. Texas A&M also downed Fresno State 14-2 in the first round of the 2016 NCEA Championships to extend their series mark to 8-0.
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On Saturday, the Aggies face familiar faces in SDSU head coach Ellie Wilkins and assistant coach Logan Pluhar. Wilkins competed in Equitation on the Flat and was a member on Texas A&M's 2012 NCEA Championship team, while Pluhar competed in Horsemanship and Reining and was a two-time All-American.
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Last season, the Aggies traveled to South Dakota State and defeated the Jackrabbits, 12-7.
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Live stats for the Fresno State meet can be found at www.gobulldogs.com, while stats for Saturday's competition can be found at www.12thman.com. Â
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To learn more about the Texas A&M Equestrian team, log onto 12thman.com or follow @AggieEquestrian on Twitter.
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"This is an early meet compared to other seasons," head coach Tana McKay said. "I feel comfortable with our upperclassmen who are coming back. It has been two years since we've been to Fresno so we will see some horses that we haven't seen. I expect our underclassmen to step up to the occasion as well. I am excited that Fresno State offered to host an extra meet for us so we can have a neutral site meet against South Dakota State. We get to face two Aggies and that is always fun. I am looking forward to that."
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The Aggies, who return 10 starters and four NCEA All-Americans from last year's team, have not faced Fresno State since their 2015-16 campaign when they defeated the Bulldogs 9-9 (1412.5-1383) in a tiebreaker in California. Texas A&M also downed Fresno State 14-2 in the first round of the 2016 NCEA Championships to extend their series mark to 8-0.
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On Saturday, the Aggies face familiar faces in SDSU head coach Ellie Wilkins and assistant coach Logan Pluhar. Wilkins competed in Equitation on the Flat and was a member on Texas A&M's 2012 NCEA Championship team, while Pluhar competed in Horsemanship and Reining and was a two-time All-American.
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Last season, the Aggies traveled to South Dakota State and defeated the Jackrabbits, 12-7.
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Live stats for the Fresno State meet can be found at www.gobulldogs.com, while stats for Saturday's competition can be found at www.12thman.com. Â
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To learn more about the Texas A&M Equestrian team, log onto 12thman.com or follow @AggieEquestrian on Twitter.