Feb. 9, 2011
2011 Duke Duals
Northwestern vs. Duke - 8 a.m. CT
Northwestern vs. North Carolina - 9 a.m. CT
Date: Sunday, February 13
Site: Duke Fencing Gym Durham, N.C.
2010-11 Northwestern Statistics/Results
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern, ranked seventh in the latest USFCA Coaches Poll, heads east to North Carolina to compete in this weekend's Duke Duals on Sunday, Feb. 13. The Wildcats face the host Blue Devils at 8 a.m. CT before taking on North Carolina at 9 a.m. CT.
The Wildcats, coming off a 7-3 record at last weekend's Northwestern Duals, enters the weekend with an overall record of 29-6 in dual meets, needing just one victory to surpass 30 wins for the seventh-straight season.
Northwestern holds an 18-5 advantage in the all-time series against Duke, including a pair of victories over the Blue Devils last season. The Wildcats earned an 18-9 decision at the Philadelphia Invitational before toppling Duke 20-7 at last year's Northwestern Duals.
The Wildcats have already squared off against North Carolina this season, earning a convincing 26-1 decision over the Tar Heels at last weekend's Northwestern Duals. NU leads the all-time series 31-15 as the Wildcats' Laurie Schiller and UNC's Ron Miller mark the only two fencing coaches in NCAA history to surpass 1,000 career victories.
Northwestern has been paced by a pair of 60-win sophomore fencers this season, led by foilist Dayana Sarkisova's (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) 67-7 mark. Chloe Grainger (Decatur, Ga./Decatur) has looked strong in her recovery from an ACL injury last season, recording a 65-17 mark to top the sabre squad. Sophomore Kate Cavanaugh (Milwaukee, Wis./Nicolet) leads the epée with a 52-19 record while junior Devynn Patterson (Seattle, Wash., Nicolet) has also eclipsed the 50-win plateau, sitting at 53-16 on the year.
This weekend's event caps four consecutive weekends of dual meets for the Wildcats, who will take a break in preparation for the USFA National Junior Olympics in Dallas Feb. 18-21. NU then prepares for its final dual meet event of the season, hosting the second installment of the Northwestern Duals at Patten Gymnasium Feb. 26 and 27.
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