POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 6, 2009) – There is an old adage that the 2009-10 Vassar women's fencing team must follow: “Good things come to those who are patient.”

With the graduation of last years captain Erica Seigneur and junior standout Julie Carlsen on JYA, the entire Vassar team has some rebuilding ahead, at least for the first half of the season. Vassar compiled a 13-14 record last season and will start anew on November 7 at the Big One meet at Smith College.

Seigneur and Carlsen were the top athletes on the sabre squad last season, with Seigneur going 39-26 and Carlsen compiling a 48-20 record. There are five candidates in the mix to bolster that area this season, but according to head coach Bruce Gillman “none have more than one year of competitive sabre experience.” Learning the ropes on a fast track will be senior Ariel Hulley, junior Domino Gehred-O'Connell, sophomores Vanora Estridge and Brooke Schneider along with freshman Jillian Josimovich.

The foil team finds itself in a similar predicament to start the first half of the season with junior Jacqueline Kory, who compiled a 46-31 record, also on JYA. Squad leader Melissa Lee has the most experience on a youthful team that includes sophomores Elizabeth Illechko and Alia Heintz. Gillman expects two freshmen, Katherine LeClair and Katharine Sweeney to have an immediate impact.

Graduation also hit the epee squad hard where two of last year's starters, Molly Soiffer and Meryl Franklin will be sorely missed. Junior team captain Sophie Courser and seniors Jacinthe Sasson-Yenor and Emilia Mendieta will lead the squad. Courser had an impressive 60-19 record last season and won the Elliot Lilien Award, presented by the North East Conference to the fencer who combines Cheerfulness, Good Sportsmanship and An Excellent Parry System.

Depth in the epee will be provided by sophomore Veronica Weser and freshmen Caitlin Clevenger, Chaia Flegenheimer, and Victoria Weiss.

“We can win in the Fall season against some of our closer opponents if foil and epee overachieve and if the sabre squad can hang in there while they are getting experience,” says Gillman. “I believe the second half of the season will show improvement, especially with Julie (Carlsen) and Jack (Kory) returning from JYA. With those two fencers, we should do well against our opponents in the North East Conference.”

The Brewers will host their annual Invitational on November 15 inside Walker Field House and remain at home the following weekend for a match with Bard, New Paltz, Rensselaer, Rutgers and Marist.