POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's fencing team finished 3-4 in its first team competition of the season, as the Knights faced seven teams at the annual Vassar Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 10.
 
The foil squad led FDU, finishing 6-1 on the day, behind a team-best 19-2 individual performance by squad captain Alix Lerch (Puebla, Puebla, Mexico/Instituto Oriente), and a strong 16-5 finish by first-year starter Nadine Abdelaziz (Bayonne, N.J./). The saber squad also capped a winning performance at Vassar, finishing 5-2. Squad captain Hanna Heldenmuth (Miami, Fla./Keystone National) finished 17-4, while fellow saber fencer Kathryn Heaney (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) posted a 14-7 individual record.
 
Round 1 (FDU vs. Queens): The foil squad posted a perfect 9-0 mark against Queen to lead the Knights in the opening round of competition en route to a 21-6 victory. Five Knights posted undefeated marks in this round, including first-year foil starters Abdelaziz and Jill Habersaat, while freshman Hana Ramdedovic (Teaneck, N.J./) added two more victories for FDU in saber.
 
Women's Foil: W (9-0)                   
Alix Lerch (Puebla, Puebla, Mexico/Instituto Oriente) (3-0), Nadine Abdelaziz (Bayonne, N.J./) (3-0), Jill Habersaat (3-0)

Women's Epee: L (4-5)                  
Liz Inalman (1-2), Tanya Rivera (Union City, N.J./Union City) (1-2), Janki Patel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) (2-1)

Women's Saber: W (8-1)               
Hanna Heldenmuth (Miami, Fla./Keystone National) (3-0), Kathryn Heaney (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) (3-0), Hana Ramdedovic (Teaneck, N.J./) (2-1)

Final Score: W (21-6)
 
Round 2 (FDU vs Tufts): Another strong performance by the foil squad earned them a convincing 8-1 victory over Tufts University in the second round of competition. Foilists Lerch and Abdelaziz finished round two undefeated, while Habersaat added two more victories for the foil squad. Heldenmuth and Tanya Rivera (Union City, N.J./Union City) posted the lone wins during losing efforts in saber and epee respectively.
 
Women's Foil: W (8-1)                   
Alix Lerch (Puebla, Puebla, Mexico/Instituto Oriente) (3-0), Nadine Abdelaziz (Bayonne, N.J./) (3-0), Jill Habersaat (2-1)

Women's Epee: L (8-1)                  
Liz Inalman (0-3), Tanya Rivera (Union City, N.J./Union City) (1-2), Janki Patel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) (0-3)

Women's Saber: L (8-1)                 
Hanna Heldenmuth (Miami, Fla./Keystone National) (1-2), Kathryn Heaney (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) (0-3), Hana Ramdedovic (Teaneck, N.J./) (0-3)

Final Score: L (17-10)
 
Round 3 (FDU vs Lafayette): The Knights bounced back in round three with a balanced win in all three weapons to defeat Lafayette, 19-8. The saber squad posted a team-best 7-2 round, led by undefeated performances by Heldenmuth and Heaney. Foilist Lerch and epeeist Inalman also finished with perfect 3-0 rounds in their weapons.
 
Women's Foil: W (6-3)                   
Alix Lerch (Puebla, Puebla, Mexico/Instituto Oriente) (3-0), Nadine Abdelaziz (Bayonne, N.J./) (2-1), Jill Habersaat (1-2)

Women's Epee: W (6-3)                 
Liz Inalman (3-0), Tanya Rivera (Union City, N.J./Union City) (1-2), Janki Patel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) (2-1)

Women's Saber: W (7-2)               
Hanna Heldenmuth (Miami, Fla./Keystone National) (3-0), Kathryn Heaney (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) (3-0), Hana Ramdedovic (Teaneck, N.J./) (1-2)

Final Score: W (19-8)
 
Round 4 (FDU vs Haverford): The saber squad again led the way for the Knights with a 5-4 win over Haverford behind a 3-0 round by Heldenmuth and a 2-1 mark by Heaney. Foilists Lerch and Abdelaziz combined for four wins in the narrow loss in foil, while Rivera and Janki Patel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) posted the only wins in epee.
 
Women's Foil: L (5-4)                     
Alix Lerch (Puebla, Puebla, Mexico/Instituto Oriente) (2-1), Nadine Abdelaziz (Bayonne, N.J./) (2-1), Jill Habersaat (0-3)

Women's Epee: L (7-2)              
Liz Inalman (0-3), Tanya Rivera (Union City, N.J./Union City) (1-2), Janki Patel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) (1-2)

Women's Saber: W (5-4)               
Hanna Heldenmuth (Miami, Fla./Keystone National) (3-0), Kathryn Heaney (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) (2-1), Hana Ramdedovic (Teaneck, N.J./) (0-3)

Final Score: L (16-11)
 
Round 5 (FDU vs Sacred Heart): Lerch led the Knights with a perfect 3-0 mark in round five, helping the foil squad earn a 6-3 victory over Sacred Heart. Strong 2-1 performances were also posted by Abdelaziz in foil and Rivera in epee in this closely-contested match.
 
Women's Foil: W (6-3)                   
Alix Lerch (Puebla, Puebla, Mexico/Instituto Oriente) (3-0), Nadine Abdelaziz (Bayonne, N.J./) (2-1), Jill Habersaat (1-2)

Women's Epee: L (6-3)                  
Liz Inalman (0-3), Tanya Rivera (Union City, N.J./Union City) (2-1), Janki Patel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) (1-2)

Women's Saber: L (7-2)                 
Hanna Heldenmuth (Miami, Fla./Keystone National) (1-2), Kathryn Heaney (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) (1-2), Hana Ramdedovic (Teaneck, N.J./) (0-3)

Final Score: L (16-11)
 
Round 6 (FDU vs Wellesley): The foil squad and saber squad both earned wins in round six, though the team was narrowly defeated 14-13 by Wellesley College. Lerch finished another perfect 3-0 performance for the foil squad, while Heldenmuth also posted an undefeated 3-0 mark in saber.
 
Women's Foil: W (6-3)                   
Alix Lerch (Puebla, Puebla, Mexico/Instituto Oriente) (3-0), Nadine Abdelaziz (Bayonne, N.J./) (2-1), Jill Habersaat (1-2)

Women's Epee: L (7-2)                  
Liz Inalman (1-2), Tanya Rivera (Union City, N.J./Union City) (0-3), Janki Patel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) (1-2)

Women's Saber: W (5-4)               
Hanna Heldenmuth (Miami, Fla./Keystone National) (3-0), Kathryn Heaney (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) (2-1), Hana Ramdedovic (Teaneck, N.J./) (0-3)

Final Score: L (14-13)

 
Round 7 (BYE)
 
Round 8 (FDU vs Vassar): Facing the host team in the final round of competition, FDU edged Vassar, 14-13, behind balanced wins in foil and saber. Heldenmuth and Heaney both went undefeated in the round for the saber squad, while Lerch, Abdelaziz and Habersaat each posted two wins in foil.
 
Women's Foil: W (6-3)                   
Alix Lerch (Puebla, Puebla, Mexico/Instituto Oriente) (2-1), Nadine Abdelaziz (Bayonne, N.J./) (2-1), Jill Habersaat (2-1)

Women's Epee: L (7-2)                  
Liz Inalman (0-3), Tanya Rivera (Union City, N.J./Union City) (1-2), Janki Patel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) (1-2)

Women's Saber: W (6-3)               
Hanna Heldenmuth (Miami, Fla./Keystone National) (3-0), Kathryn Heaney (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) (3-0), Hana Ramdedovic (Teaneck, N.J./) (0-3)

Final Score: W (14-13)
 
Total Competition Stats:
 
Women's Foil:
Squad Record: 6-1
Bout Record: 45-18
Individual Stats: Alix Lerch (Puebla, Puebla, Mexico/Instituto Oriente) (19-2), Nadine Abdelaziz (Bayonne, N.J./) (16-5), Jill Habersaat (10-11)
 
Women's Epee:
Squad Record: 1-6
Bout Record: 20-43
Individual Stats: Liz Inalman (5-16), Tanya Rivera (Union City, N.J./Union City) (7-14), Janki Patel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills) (8-13)
 
Women's Saber:
Squad Record: 5-2
Bout Record: 34-29
Individual Stats: Hanna Heldenmuth (Miami, Fla./Keystone National) (17-4), Kathryn Heaney (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) (14-7), Hana Ramdedovic (Teaneck, N.J./) (3-18)
 
Team Totals:
Team Record: 3-4
Squad Record: 12-9
Bout Record: 99-90
 
The Knights will return to action Friday, Nov. 22 when they host the FDU Invitational at Stratis Arena.