Fencing Set for NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional on Saturday

Saturday, March 9

Easton, Pa.

All Day

Temple University

NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional

Photo by: Ken Inness

Fencing Set for NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional on Saturday

3.7.19 | Women's Fencing

Live Results

PHILADELPHIA - With the goal of having as many student-athletes advance to the NCAA Championships as possible, the seventh-ranked Temple fencing team competes Saturday, March 9 in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional at Lafayette College.

Scouting Temple
> The Owls have the maximum 12 fencers competing, but all 16 team members met the NCAA criteria and were eligible for the meet.
> Representing the epee squad will be seniors Ally Micek and Fiona Fong, and sophomores Marielle Luke and Zahrah Dinkins.
> The foil squad will be represented by senior Auset Muhammad, junior Kennedy Lovelace, sophomore Megan Ross and freshman Aryana Abtin.
> For the sabre squad, senior Blessing Olaode will compete along with juniors Malia Hee and Kerry Plunkett and sophomore Eva Hinds.
> Of the 33 teams Temple faced in dual meets during the 2017-18 season, 11 of them were ranked higher than the Owls in the CollegeFencing360 Coaches Poll. With the strength of schedule factoring into the at-large bids, Temple's schedule will definitely work in its favor.
> Leading Temple overall this season was Kerry Plunkett with a record of 53-14. Close behind her was Hee with a record of 48-18.
> In epee, Micek led the Owls at 45-34 overall.
> Abtin had the best foil record for Temple at 45-30.

Last Year's Results
> Hee was Temple's top finisher at last year's NCAA Regional, taking second in sabre to lead a group of six Owls who were finalists at the meet.
> Plunkett placed fourth in sabre last year, with Olaode in fifth.
> Lovelace was also a finalist last year, placing 12th in foil.
> Following last year's NCAA Regional, Temple was represented at the NCAA Championships by Lovelace, Hee and Plunkett.
> Lovelace placed seventh to earn All-America Second Team honors in foil, while Hee and Plunkett took 13th and 22nd in sabre, respectively.
> Plunkett looks to make her third straight NCAA Championship appearance this year.

Meet Information
> The foil and epee fencers will begin competition at 9 a.m., with sabre to follow at 10 a.m.
> The qualification for the NCAA Championship is based on a formula comprising a 60 percent weight on regional performance and 40 percent on regular-season meets.
> Regional champions for each weapon automatically advance, with remaining bids going to fencers based on performance and the region they compete in (seven spots are available in each weapon from the Mid-Atlantic/South Region).
> The NCAA selections will be announced on March 12.
> At the NCAA Championships, each weapon field will consist of the top 24 fencers from across the nation. For the regional meet, the 36 fencers in each weapon will compete until 12 remain, and those 12 will battle in a round robin final.

Quotable - Head Coach Dr. Nikki Franke
> "We're very pleased to have 12 selections. I think the girls have worked very hard this week in preparation. They're ready physically and mentally, and I'm excited for what I know they can accomplish. For those who have been there before, the goal is to finish better than last year, and the goal for everyone is finals (top 12) and to perform well. That's what we've worked hard for and they have to trust themselves and trust their preparation."