DURHAM, NC – The Johns Hopkins women's fencing team faced a tough slate at the annual Duke Invitational Sunday, facing a pair of top-10 Division I teams and a top-five Division III team.
 
Hopkins opened the day against host and fifth-ranked Duke and fell 20-7 to the Blue Devils. Sophomore Josephine Chang won two of her bouts in a 7-2 loss for the Sabre squad. Senior Diya Kulkarni, junior Katelyn McShine and freshman Anika Kale earned one win each as the Epee squad lost 6-3. And in the Foil, sophomore Rosy Cepero and freshman Julianna Wu did the same in a 7-2 loss.
 
JHU rebounded with a 14-13 win over Brandeis, ranked fourth in Division III. The Blue Jays earned 5-4 wins in the Sabre and Epee and lost a close 5-4 decision in the Foil. Chang and freshman Victoria Li won two bouts each, with Li clinching the win in the Sabre. Kulkarni won all three of her bouts, including the deciding win, in the Epee. Wu went 3-0 in the Foil in a tough loss for the Blue Jays.
 
The Blue Jays then lost 18-9 to the Air Force Falcons, with the Sabre squad grabbing a 6-3 win. Chang went 3-0 to lead the Sabre squad, while sophomore Bethany Lee earned the Blue Jays' lone point in the Foil. Kale and junior Katelyn McShine each won a bout as the Epee squad lost 7-2.
 
Hopkins closed out the day with a 16-11 loss to ninth-ranked Temple. Chang again won all three of her bouts in a 5-4 loss for the Sabre squad. Kale won two of her three as the Epee squad also dropped a close 5-4 decision. And in the Foil, senior Czarina Alfonso won two bouts in a 6-3 loss for the Blue Jays.
 
Hopkins returns to action on Sunday, February 18 at the EWFC Championships in Madison, NJ.