NORTHAMPTON, MA (November 7, 2015) – The Vassar College women's fencing team opened its 2015-16 campaign Saturday afternoon, traveling to Smith College for The Big One. The event, held annually at Smith, was put on by the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference.

The highlight of the afternoon for the women's team came in epee, as junior Olivia Weiss (Pittsburgh, PA/Pennsylvania Cyber Charter) made it all to the semifinals, finishing third overall. Weiss was undefeated in her pool, while freshman Rose Hulsey-Vincent (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) also won all five of her pool bouts.

In the elimination bracket, Hulsey-Vincent earned a win in the first round before falling 15-12 to Amelia Bryan of MIT. Senior Maggie Shepherd (Sausalito, CA/Novado) also picked up one win, earning a 15-11 win over Madeline Klein of Smith College before being bounced from the bracket in the round of 32.

Weiss had a walkover in the round of 64, before earning a 15-8 win over Lily Mommens of Amherst and a 15-11 victory against Addison Niemeyer of UMass. With a chance at the semifinals, Weiss gutted out a thrilling 15-14 win over Cassandra Cronin of Wellesley College. Once in the round of four, Weiss almost made the finals but dropped a heartbreaking 15-14 decision to Carly Glowacky of Sacred Heart.

The Brewer women's foil team didn't finish anyone in the top three, but did put four fencers in the top 24 Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Kirsten Denman (Yellow Springs, OH/Yellow Springs) finished ninth overall, while newcomer Sophie Blumenstock (St. Paul, MN/Nova Classical Academy) was tied for 10^th. Fellow freshman Merit Rutishauser (New York, NY/LaGuardia School of Music & Art) was 12^th, while Elsa Stoff (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) was 24^th.

Denman went undefeated in the opening pool play, allowing just four touches over her six wins. Rutishauser also was 6-0 in pool action, as was Blumenstock while Stoff earned four victories before the elimination round. Denman, who was the second seed was not tested until the round of eight, when she fell 15-10 to Jessica Li of MIT.

Rutishauser started her career by defeating Sarah Black of Boston University 15-0, followed by a 15-6 win over Julia Cupolo of Sacred Heart. Rutishauser's run would come to an end at the hands of Lily Ma from Dartmouth, who earned a 15-9 win over the Vassar freshman. Blumenstock who was the fifth seed in the bracket, earned 15-3 and 15-1 victories to reach the round of 16, but fell 15-7 to CJ McCarter of Sacred Heart.

In women's sabre, sophomore Annie Innes-Gold (Northampton, MA/Northampton) was the lone representative in the top 16 for the Brewers. After five wins in pool play, Innes-Gold was the No. 12 seed and won her first two rounds handily with scores of 15-2 and 15-2. In the round of 16, Innes-Gold dropped a 15-11 match to Marney Krupat of Boston College. Sophomore Arianna Hawk (East Northport, NY/Commack) also earned a first round win with a 15-4 victory over Jasmine McGhee of MIT.

The Brewers will now come home to host the Vassar Invitational next Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in Walker Field House.