PHILADELPHIA (October 28, 2024) – A sixth-place finish, out of 88 competitors, by Maria Alvim (Lisbon, Portugal) in the epee highlighted the day on Saturday for the Sacred Heart University women's fencing team at the Nikki Franke Classic, hosted by Temple.
 
Epee was the busiest event of the day for the Pioneers, who had six fencers competing in the discipline. Alvim led the way, as she went 4-0 in the first round of pool play and 4-0 in the second round as well, to earn the seventh seed in the knockout portion of the event. She received a bye to the round of 64 and then won three matches, all fairly comfortably, to advance to the final eight. Alvim was ousted in the quarterfinal round, but not without a fight, as she fell to Polina Kharchyna of Penn, 15-14.
 
SHU also got another top-15 finish in the epee, courtesy of Nadia Gaberkorn (Marlboro, N.J.), who would ultimately place 14^th. She went 3-1 in both rounds of pool play to earn the 17^th seed and won a pair of knockout matches to advance to the round of 16 before bowing out. Her run included a dramatic, 15-13 triumph over Wagner's Alanna Clayton in the round of 64.
 
The Pioneers had two other top-50 finishes on the day. Valery Krylova (Shelton, Conn.) finished tied for 44^th, out of 77 fencers, in the sabre, while Jenna Jacinto (Dix Hills, N.Y.) placed 46^th, out of 80, in the foil.
 
After being eliminated in pool play, Grace Baranosky (Fairfield, Conn.) went on to win the consolation epee event.
 
SHU is back in action on Saturday at Smith, for the NEIFC Fall Invitational.
 
Results
 
Women's Foil
Jenna Jacinto – 46^th (of 80); advanced to round of 64
Ellie Yurkstas – 52^nd; advanced to round of 64
Megan DePersis – T-57^th; advanced to round of 64
 
Women's Epee
Maria Alvim – 6^th (of 88); advanced to round of 8
Nadia Gaberkorn – 14^th; advanced to round of 16
Ines Benadouda – 65^th; advanced to round of 128
Brigid McMahon – 66^th; advanced to round of 128
Gabrielle Phelan – T-67^th; advanced to round of 128
Grace Baranosky – 78^th
 
Women's Sabre
Valery Krylova – T-44^th (of 77); advanced to round of 64
Jessica Murphy – 52^nd; advanced to round of 64
 
Consolation Women's Epee
Grace Baranosky – 1^st (of 17)