Revenge can be one of the greatest motivators in sports, and fencing is no exception.

Before last year, Penn State dominated collegiate fencing. For six seasons, the Lions won every national championship, beating teams such as St. John's, Notre Dame and Ohio State, and accumulating a remarkable dual meet record.

The Penn State fencing team struggled last season, losing three dual meets, qualifying only 11 (out of a possible 12) fencers for the NCAA championships, and narrowly losing the NCAA title to St. John's. This weekend, the Nittany and Lady Lions will try to expunge some of their demons when they travel to Philadelphia to take on St. John's and other schools in their last dual meet of the season.

Captain Daniel Landgren said that the team is really looking forward to Saturday's meet.

"There will be some good competition, so it will bring out emotion in the team, and everyone will be ready to go," he said.

The No. 3 ranked men will be facing three tough teams, including the only two teams that beat them last season, Columbia and St. John's. The No. 2 Lady Lions will be facing host University of Pennsylvania, No. 1 St. John's and a trio of schools that only have women's teams.

Senior captain Stephanie Eim said that it would be a huge morale booster if the fencers were able to beat St. John's.

"I'm excited, anxious and a little sad because it's the last (dual meet) for me," she said.

Head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov maintains that it's not about getting back at St. John's, but seeing the general shape of his Lions going into the post-season. It's important for team morale, but, he said, the main task is to qualify for nationals. In the most recent United States Fencing Coaches Association poll, released on Wednesday, the rankings flip-flopped. In the women's poll, St. John's held on to the top spot, while undefeated Penn State jumped over Notre Dame to take No. 2.

For the men, 12-0 Penn State stayed where they were at No. 3, while Notre Dame took over the top spot from St. John's. Columbia and Ohio State jumped a few spots to tie for fourth in the polls. St. John's is led by U.S. Fencer of the Year, and two-time All-American Ivan Lee. Lee was the 2001 U.S. Men's Sabre National Champion and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the U.S. senior and junior rankings. It should make for an interesting matchup with Penn State sabre star Alex Weber, who won a bronze medal with the German Olympic team in Sydney.

Eim believes that the team is ready to make its move towards another national championship. It begins this weekend against St. John's. "St. John's is a lot of talk, and we're more subdued," she said. "We'll be ready to fence, and we'll see what happens."