LA JOLLA, CA (January 18, 2016) – The Vassar College women's fencing team took part in the West Invitational on Sunday afternoon hosted by the University of California-San Diego in RIMAC Arena. The Brewers went 2-4 on the afternoon, earning wins over the University of Incarnate Word (22-5) and Cal Tech (21-6).

Vassar College was facing three teams that were either ranked in the CollegeFencing360.com National Poll, or receiving votes in the latest release. Northwestern University, ranked No. 5 currently, defeated the Brewers 21-6 in round four, while Vassar also dropped efforts to Air Force (17-10), UCSD (17-10) and Stanford University (16-11).

The two standouts for the Brewers on Sunday were sophomore foilist Kirsten Denman and junior epee fencer Olivia Weiss (Pittsburgh, PA/Pennsylvania Cyber Charter). Denman lost only three of her 17 bouts on Sunday, going 2-1 against Northwestern and undefeated against Incarnate Word, Stanford and Cal Tech. On the season, she now is second on the team in total wins with 45.

Weiss continued her standout career with the Brewers on Sunday, as she totaled a 13-4 record for the day. Weiss started the day with a 2-1 mark against Air Force, and followed that up with perfect 3-0 records against UCSD, Stanford and Cal Tech. Weiss paces the Brewers in victories this year with 47.

Also in women's foil, freshman Sophie Blumenstock (St. Paul, MN/Nova Classical Academy) earned 10 victories on the day, going a combined 7-1 against UIW, Stanford and Cal Tech. Fellow freshman foilist Mirit Rutishauser (New York, NY/La Guardia School of Music & Art) tallied nine wins, going 3-0 in the day's final match against the Beavers of Cal Tech.

Freshman Rose Hulsey-Vincent (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) returned to the Pacific Time zone and fared well, as she added eight wins in women's epee, including two against Air Force and one against Northwestern. Sophomore Annie Innes-Gold (Northampton, MA/Northampton) was 8-8 on the day in sabre, posted winning records in three matches as well as a 3-0 mark against Cal Tech.

The foil squad was strong for VC on Sunday, posting a 36-18 record, claiming at least three bouts in all six matches. Epee also tallied 25 wins to the Brewers cause.

Vassar College will start its Northeast Fencing Conference slate this upcoming Saturday morning, heading to Boston College to take on six teams in Chestnut Hill, MA. Action starts at 10 a.m. in the Flynn Recreation Center on the campus of BC.