Duke Women’s Fencing Wraps Regular Season with Statement Showing at Miller Invitational
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - As the regular season came to a close, the No. 5 Duke women’s fencing team made sure to leave a lasting impression.
Competing at the Miller Invitational, the Blue Devils went 4-1 on Sunday, notching wins over Air Force, Boston College, Brandeis, and No. 14 Temple in a performance that showcased both depth and resilience across all three weapons.
Let’s break it down.
Setting the Tone Early
Duke opened the day with a tightly contested win over ACC rival Boston College, edging out a 15-12 team victory. The sabre squad came out swinging, delivering a dominant 7-2 performance. Freshman Kalina Atanasova was a standout, going a perfect 3-0 and setting the tone for the rest of the match.
On the foil strip, junior Charlotte Koenig matched that energy with a clean 3-0 record, helping secure a narrow 5-4 edge in that discipline. It wasn’t a blowout, but it was a gritty, team-first win - the kind that matters in postseason prep.
Running Into a Buzzsaw
The second match of the day brought a tough test: No. 2 Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish flexed their top-tier status with a 20-7 win over the Blue Devils, handing Duke its only loss of the weekend. But even in the setback, there were bright spots.
Six different Duke fencers picked up individual wins, including freshman épée Daniella Barg, who notched two victories of her own.
Losses like this can be humbling, but they’re also revealing - and Duke responded the right way.
Bouncing Back in a Big Way
The Blue Devils didn’t dwell on the defeat. Instead, they bounced back with three straight wins to close out the invitational, starting with a strong 17-10 victory over No.
14 Temple. Junior foilist Sophia Shen was flawless at 3-0, and she had plenty of help.
Graduate épée Yeva Mazur also went 3-0, while junior sabre Victoria Gorman added a 2-0 mark. That trio alone combined for 10 bout wins - a huge lift against a ranked opponent.
From there, Duke turned up the heat.
Depth on Display
Against Brandeis, Duke was dominant from start to finish, cruising to a 22-5 win. The foil team was nearly untouchable, posting an 8-1 record, while sabre and épée both added 7-2 marks. Seven Blue Devils went undefeated in the match, including Gorman (sabre), freshman Meera Desai (épée), junior Zizi Newhard (foil), and senior Kunling Tong (sabre), all of whom posted clean 3-0 records.
The finale against Air Force followed a similar script. Duke rolled to a 21-6 win, powered by a 9-0 sweep in foil. Senior Rachel Koo and senior Skylar Knight both went 3-0, while Shen added two more wins to cap off a strong individual day.
Leading the Charge
Individually, Shen and Koo were the engines of the foil squad all day, finishing with eight and seven wins, respectively. Their consistency helped stabilize the team throughout the meet, especially in tight moments. Across the board, Duke got meaningful contributions from veterans and underclassmen alike - a promising sign heading into championship season.
Looking Ahead
With the regular season now in the books, Duke turns its attention to the ACC Championship, which they’ll host at home. Head coach Omar Elgeziry was quick to praise the team’s overall performance and the energy surrounding the weekend, especially with senior recognitions and alumni in attendance.
“It was a great weekend for us from start to finish,” Elgeziry said. “We began by hosting a fantastic event and followed that up by securing some strong wins for both our men's and women's teams.
It was especially meaningful to honor our seniors during the senior event, and I was incredibly proud to see so many alumni return for the reunion, which made the weekend even more special. Overall, I'm really pleased with how everything came together, and most importantly, I feel confident about where we are as we prepare for the ACC Championship at Duke.
Go Duke!”
Final Results - Miller Invitational (Women)
- Duke def. Boston College 15-12 (Épée: 3-6, Foil: 5-4, Sabre: 7-2)
- Notre Dame def. Duke 20-7 (Épée: 6-3, Foil: 6-3, Sabre: 8-1)
- Duke def. Temple 17-10 (Épée: 6-3, Foil: 6-3, Sabre: 5-4)
- Duke def. Brandeis 22-5 (Épée: 7-2, Foil: 8-1, Sabre: 7-2)
- Duke def. Air Force 21-6 (Épée: 5-4, Foil: 9-0, Sabre: 7-2)
With a 4-1 finish and momentum on their side, the Blue Devils are in a strong position heading into the postseason. If this weekend was any indication, Duke has the depth, talent, and leadership to make a serious run at the ACC title - and maybe more.