Already the defending national champion, Penn State fencer Katarzyna Trzopek again produced big results, finishing fifth in the senior women's epee open in the U.S. Olympic Trial North American Cup Junior Open.

Trzopek, and freshmen Case Szarwark and Sophia Hiss competed in San Jose this weekend. In competition to earn points toward selection to the U.S. National Team, the Penn State fencers went against the finest fencers in the country.

While Trzopek played the veteran of the group as a sophomore, all three outdid their youthfulness.

The fifth-place finish for Trzopek was the highest finish of any Penn State fencer, including the other three competitors that fenced in last week's segment of the Olympic Trials.

"For Katarzyna to finish fifth is a very good result," Penn State assistant coach David Lyng said.

Penn State had two top-20 finishers in the senior women's epee, as Szarwark finished 19th. Szarwark also fenced in the junior women's epee, but at press time The Daily Collegian was unable to obtain final results.

In the foil, Hiss competed in both the senior and junior open. She earned a 13th place finish in the junior foil and 24th place in the senior foil.

Also involved in competition were two former Penn State fencers. Stephanie Eim and Jessie Burke joined their old squad and both placed in the top 10.

Eim finished second and Burke took eighth place.

The three women fencers will join the rest of their team next Saturday for a home duel match featuring Duke at 9 a.m. at the White Building.