WACO, Texas — Following a fall half to the season that saw Sweet Briar earn three team wins over fences, the Vixens were announced as the ninth-ranked team over fences in the initial National Collegiate Equestrian Association Event Rankings, as announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Sweet Briar opened the season with a 3-2 advantage over fences against Fresno State. Later in the fall, the Vixens drew even on points with TCU over fences, but the Horned Frogs held the advantage on the raw score.

The final two meets of the fall season saw Sweet Briar hold the raw score advantages over both New Paltz and Delaware State. 

Individually, first-year Sophia Kane (Carbondale, Colo.) earned Most Oustanding Performer honors over fences against New Paltz, while junior Katie Balding (Williamsburg, Va.) picked up the same honor against Delaware State.

Balding and fellow junior Lily Peterson (Ashland, Va.) both have been recognized this season by the Easter Collegiate Athletic Conference as Fences Rider of the Week.

The NCEA Event Rankings are determined by the NCEA Selection Committee based on head-to-head competition and a variety of data points.

Event rankings will be used to seed teams for the event title competitions at the NCEA National Championships in Waco, Texas.

Sweet Briar will return to competition on January 31 with meets against South Carolina and South Dakota State at the University of South Carolina.