If looking through a fencing mask wasn't awkward enough, the Penn State fencing team will now take on the challenge of keeping one eye on regionals and the other on Sunday's opponents.

Both the men's and women's teams will travel to Cornell Sunday for a dual meet. The biggest matchup is with No. 4 Columbia. Penn State's men's team (9-2) is No. 3, and the women's team (10-1) is tied with Ohio State at No. 2.

"Columbia is a very strong team and we will be very even," Penn State fencing coach Emmanuil Kaidanov said. "We are dealing with a strong saber team in Columbia and Penn. We have some advantage in women's foil, so overall the epee will decide."

The men's team will go against Columbia and No. 7 Penn only, while the women's team will also take on Temple and Cornell.

Women's epee might be shorthanded, as sophomore and defending national champ Katarzyna Trzopek has been out of practice all week with an injured ankle.

Freshman Case Szarwark has battled an illness all week. The team "could be better in health," Kaidanov said.

Women's saber will get a boost with senior Heather Brosnan seeing more action this weekend.

She has fenced sparingly all season, but Kaidanov says that "she is physically much better now."

The men's team has stayed rather healthy and expects the same kind of results that both teams have had all season.

"All the teams are very strong," Kaidanov said. "We will have a heck of a fight."

With the Mid-Atlantic/ South Regionals three weeks away, accumulating points to qualify is also important for individual fencers. To qualify for regionals one must compete in at least 20 bouts.

"Right now it is important for the team to win and for individuals to get enough points to get to regionals," Kaidanov said. "We are trying to get healthy and by regionals we will have to perform on our level."