Columbia and Princeton Women's Fencing Teams Post 3-0 Records to Open 2011 Round-Robins

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Ivy Round-Robin Central

PRINCETON, N.J. -- The Columbia and Princeton women's fencing teams placed themselves at the top of the standings following the first day of 2011 Ivy League Round-Robin competition. On day one, the seven women's teams fenced three rounds of action at Princeton's Jadwin Gymnasium and both the Lions and Tigers went 3-0. Harvard sits in third with a 2-1 record and Brown is fourth at 1-1. Penn and Yale went 0-2 on the day, while Cornell fell to 0-3.

The first round of action saw Harvard edge Penn, 14-13, in the day's closest match. Harvard's foil squad posted a 7-2 mark versus the Quakers, only to be neutralized by Penn's epee squad, which posted an equally dominating 7-2 mark against the Crimson. Sabre thus ended up being the difference, as the Crimson held a slight 5-4 advantage, led by perfect 3-0 mark from Caroline Vloka. Also in round one, Columbia downed Yale, 21-6, and Princeton defeated Cornell, 21-6.

In the second round, Penn ended up on the wrong end of another narrow defeat, this time at the hands of Columbia, who won 15-12. The Quakers again had a strong 7-2 showing in epee, while Columbia cancelled that out with a 7-2 foil record. In sabre, the Lions went 6-3, led by Loweye Diedro's 3-0 record.

Also in round two, Princeton downed Brown, 22-5, and Harvard took care of Cornell, 23-4, to set up a battle of unbeatens in the third round. The Tigers ultimately outlasted the Crimson to post a 15-12 win in the third round. Princeton epeeist Hannah Safford clinched the victory in dramatic fashion when, fencing with priority, she recorded the decisive touch on Harvard's Felicia Sun to win the match, 5-4 in overtime.

Columbia downed Cornell, 21-6, and Brown rallied for a 15-12 win over Yale to close out the third round. Brown's win came on the strength of a 6-3 mark in epee, led by Laney Caldwell's 3-0 mark.

Several women's fencers are putting together impressive performances, as nine fencers have posted either an 8-1 or 9-0 record through the first three rounds. In epee, Princeton's Hannah Safford leads the way with an 8-1 mark. In foil, Columbia's Nzingha Prescod tunred in a 9-0 record on the day, while her teammate D'Meca Homer went 8-1 in foil. Harvard's Alexandra Kiefer also went 8-1 in foil.

Through three rounds of action, women's sabre has proved to be one of the deepest fields, led by Vloka and L. Diedro's respective 9-0 marks. Sammy Roberts, also of Columbia, as well as the Princeton duo of Diamond Wheeler and Eliza Stone all posted 8-1 sabre records.

The top three individual finishers in each weapon will earn All-Ivy first team status following the conclusion of the two-day event, while the next three fencers will earn All-Ivy second team honors. Also, starting with the 2011 Round-Robin, the women's fencing head coaches will vote for a Performer and Rookie of the Round-Robin, with each weapon's top finisher eligible for the Top Performer award.

The teams will return to Jadwin Gym tomorrow, Feb. 13 for the final four rounds of the 2011 Round-Robin looking to capture the the Maestro Lajos Csizar Trophy, awarded annually to the women's fencing Ivy League Round-Robin Champion. Fencing is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m.


Day One Results

Round One
#4 Princeton def. Cornell, 21-6
#6 Columbia def. Yale, 21-6
#3 Harvard def. #8 Penn, 14-13

Round Two
#4 Princeton def. Brown, 22-5
#6 Columbia def. #8 Penn, 15-12
#3 Harvard def. Cornell, 23-4

Round Three
#4 Princeton def. #3 Harvard, 15-12
Brown def. Yale, 15-12
#6 Columbia def. Cornell, 21-6

Day Two Schedule

Round 4
Columbia vs. Princeton
Yale vs. Penn
Harvard vs. Brown

Round 5
Columbia vs. Harvard
Brown vs. Penn
Cornell vs. Yale

Round 6
Princeton vs. Yale
Brown vs. Columbia
Penn vs. Cornell

Round 7
Princeton vs. Penn
Yale vs. Harvard
Cornell vs. Brown