MADISON, N.J. - Graduate student, Nicole Gavrilko, finished third in the epee weapon at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional held at Drew University. Gavrilko was one of five FDU fencers who competed in the Regional. Other epee competitor's were sophomore Sherleen Yunes and freshman, Jade Burnett. In the foil competition, freshman Gabriella Como and senior Dominique Greaux-Gist participated.

Fencing began in the morning and saw Yunes and Burnett pick up early victories in the opening pool play. Yunes earned a win against her opponent from Stevens and finished pool play 1-5. Burnett started pool play with a triumphant victory against a fencer from Penn State. An additional pool play victory against Drew wrapped up Burnett's first NCAA Regional, finishing 2-4.

In foil, Como picked up her first career Regional bout victory against a fencer from Stevens and would finish 1-5. D. Greaux-Gist wrapped up her fencing career at FDU with a valiant effort but couldn't find the final touches for a win.

It was Gavrilko that stood out throughout the epee competition. Exempt from the opening round of pool play, the transfer from St. John's, went 3-2 in second round of pool play, good enough to advance. In the 3rd round, Gavrilko only picked up two wins over the five bouts, but due to close losses and a individual point differential of zero, snuck into the final pool of the competition in 9th out of 12 remaining fencers. She would not let the opportunity pass, and won the first three bouts against fencers from Temple, Duke, and UPenn. Gavrilko would go on to win four more bouts in the final pool play of the Regional and earned the third place finish.

The NCAA will announce qualifying fencers for the NCAA Fencing Championship on Tuesday. Gavrilko will be one of the fencers announced who will compete at Penn State for the NCAA Fencing Championship on March 20-23.

Women's Epee (51 fencers):
3. Nicole Gavrilko
38T. Jade Burnett
50. Sherleen Yunes

Women's Foil (41 fencers):
36. Gabriella Como
40T. Dominique Greaux-Gist