Jan. 18, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The first United States Fencing Coaches' Association (USFCA) poll of the 2007-08 season has been released and Notre Dame tops the women's rankings, while the Fighting Irish men are third. Penn State was tabbed as the No. 1 team in the men's poll, followed by Ohio State. The Buckeyes are No. 2 in the women's rankings and Columbia-Barnard is third.

Notre Dame opened the spring semester portion of its schedule last weekend at the Western Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Irish women posted a perfect 5-0 mark, while the men tied No. 10 Stanford for first with a 4-1 record.

There will be three USFCA polls during the 2007-08 campaign. The next set of rankings will be released after the Junior Olympics in February, while the final poll is taken after the NCAA Regionals in March.

The Fighting Irish return to action at the NYU Duals on Saturday, Jan. 26.

USFCA Coaches' Poll

Men
1. Penn State
2. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
4. St. John's (N.Y.)
5. Columbia
6. Pennsylvania
7. Harvard
8. Princeton
9. Brandeis
10. Stanford

Women
1. Notre Dame
2. Ohio State
3. Columbia-Barnard
4. Penn State
5. Harvard
6. Northwestern
7. St. John's (N.Y.)
8. Pennsylvania
9. Temple
10. Princeton