CAMBRIDGE, MA (March 9, 2009) – The Vassar women's fencing team turned in its best NCAA Regional Championship performance since C. Locket Albritton qualified for NCAA Tournament in 1997.

A pair of Vassar sophomores, sophomore Sophie Courser (Warner, NH) in the Epee and Julie Carlsen (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) in the Sabre both earned nominations for at-large bids to the NCAA Championships to be held at Penn State University on March 21-22.

Courser fenced well all day and powered to a 7th place finish, the highest for a Vassar women in any Regional event since 1997. Her placement, combined with her season record enabled the regional committee to nominate her for an at-large bid to NCAAs. That decision will be determined on Tuesday, March 10.

Carlsen also earned a nomination for an at-large bid based on her 14th place Regional finish and season record. Carlsen fenced well into the 2nd round, winning her last bout, but didn't make the final pool.

Other Vassar women's team results were:

Senior captain Erica Seigneur (Azusa, CA/Azusa) also made the 2nd round and finished 17th in Sabre

Sophomore Jackie Kory (Martinez, CA) advanced to round 2 in Foil, finishing 24th. Junior Melissa Lee (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley) finished 32nd.

Seniors Molly Soiffer (Newton, MA/Buckingham. Brown & Nichol) and Meryl Franklin (Chapel Hill, NC/East Chapel) finished 33rd and 34th respectively in epee.