If this event were a football game at Penn State, Beaver Stadium would be standing room only.

The Penn State fencing team will be traveling to South Bend, Ind., to face two of the top fencing teams in the country, Notre Dame and Ohio State.

The three teams are collectively the top three ranked teams in the country in both men's and women's fencing.

The last time these teams faced off against each other was at the M. Garret Open at Penn State where all three schools dominated each division.

The top 10 in the men's saber at the Open was filled with fencers from the three schools.

The final match had Penn State fencer Franz Boghichev against Ohio State's Adam Crompton with Crompton coming out on top.

In the men's foil, senior Nonpatat Panchan was the top fencer with Notre Dame's Jakub Jedrkowiak finishing second.

The women are looking for another strong showing from junior Kataryzna Trzopek, who won the women's epee at the Open.

When the Open ended, junior captain Marten Zagunis wanted another shot at the two teams but this time in dual competition.

"The event gave us a better picture of where each team is at," Zagunis said after the Open ended. "All of the teams know each other and get better each time we compete."

The Lions have had this weekend circled on their schedules since the Open and only need wait for 9 a.m. tomorrow for the trip to South Bend.

Week after week, the Lions talk about "dominating" their competition in dual matches and week after week, they win by a large margin.

When they travel to South Bend to compete against the last two national champions in dual format, scores like last week's women's 20-7 win against Drew University may be a challenge.

Coach Emmanuil Kaidanov did not want the team looking ahead to this weekend when the Lions competed against lesser competition last Saturday.

"The coaches made sure that we have a high work ethic at practice," sophomore Tamara Najm said after the Penn State Duals ended last Saturday. "They make sure that we are here to work our hardest and do our best."

The Boghichev versus Crompton matchup will be the dual to watch, as they are two of the top fencers in the saber in country.

With the top three teams in the country as well as Michigan, Wayne State and Detroit all competing in South Bend tomorrow and Sunday, the rankings for the top teams should be clearer.

"It was fun competing against some of the top teams in the country," Zagunis said after the Open ended in November. "But we want to face these teams when it really counts."