Irish look for program’s ninth title

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Noting ND:  A year after winning the program’s eighth national championship, the Fighting Irish return one of the best fencers in the country in Courtney Hurley. The senior helped the United States to a silver medal at the World University Games with the women’s epée team. Sophomore Rachel Beck clinched the championship and returns in 2011-12.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Noting OSU: Ohio State will host the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year, and will look to improve upon its fifth-place finish a year ago. The Buckeyes have finished in the top five at the championships 10 seasons in a row, and sophomore Katarzyna Dabrowa is back to lead the way to try and make it 11.

Princeton Tigers

Noting PU: After a fourth-place finish at the 2011 NCAA championships, Princeton looks to build upon that by welcoming back junior saberist Eliza Stone and sophomore foilist Eve Levin. Stone won 20 of her 23 round-robin bouts to earn the top seed in the direct elimination portion of the competition and got by Notre Dame’s Eileen Hassett 15-14 in the semifinal.

Dec. 3 — Harvard, Penn State, Princeton and others – at Penn State

Jan. 22 — Columbia, Harvard, St. John’s and others – at St. John’s

Jan. 28 – Duke, Penn, Penn State and others – at Penn State

Feb. 11 — Air Force, Duke, Notre Dame and others – at Duke