The Penn State fencing team will travel to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., on Sunday to begin their dual meet season.

The fencers will be facing four tough opponents: Princeton, Rutgers, New York University, and the University of North Carolina.

This will count as four separate dual meets, one team right after another. Penn State's men's and women's teams will compete separately, and each will keep their own records.

Since the fencers will be facing four opponents in one day, the coaching staff will use the opportunity to allow some of their younger team members to gain experience.

"It will be a challenge," captain Stephanie Eim said.

"We'll be trying to give experience to some of the freshmen and win at the same time."

The fencers look toward Princeton as their strongest opponent.

"You have to respect Princeton, or they can be very dangerous," head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov said.

Last season, in this same meet, both the men and the women started their seasons 4-0, by defeating the same four teams.Expectations are very high for the upcoming event.

"I expect us to do very well, because we definitely have the talent," women's sabre captain Stephanie Tam said.

Though the Nittany and Lady Lions have been competing since September, this will be the first series of team competitions. Previously, the team has participated in open tournaments, such as the Temple Open, and their own Garrett Penn State Open.

The dual meet season is very important for both the team and the individuals. The record that an individual fencer accumulates during the regular season determines whether or not they are eligible to compete in the regional championships, and ultimately the NCAA national championships.

It is crucial that the team qualifies two fencers for every weapon at the NCAA's. Last season, the Nittany and Lady Lions qualified only 11 out of the 12 possible positions, and was defeated by St. John's, ending the Lions' streak of six consecutive national championships.

"We really want to win NCAA's this year, so we want to start off well, right from the beginning," Tam said.

The fencers can begin their quest for a national championship by winning on Sunday.

"Everyone is hungry," Kaidanov said.

"The question is whether everyone is ready. That we'll see."