The Harvard fencing team displayed all-around strength in an encouraging 20-7 victory over Southern Massachusetts University in the IAB Saturday.

"We did slightly better than we had expected." said captain Cliff Ruderman. "This match was not so much a test of the team's ability as it was of its spirit, and I was pleased with the spirit that the team displayed."

The Crimson dominated competition in all three weapons. A squad of six sophomores won the saber, 6-3. Richard Tolbert and Patri Gugliese paced the victory, both winning 5-0 and 5-1 bouts.

Ruderman led a 6-3 win in the foil, winning all three of his bouts. Foil was the only weapon where coach Edo Marion used his three varsity regulars. Philip Rapaport also contributed two victories.

Harvard scored its most convincing victory in the epee, winning, 8-1, John Reitz and Micky Irvings each won three bouts. Coach Marion used this meet primarily as preparation for the important CCNY meet next Saturday. He says he anticipated no real problem in winning and used the match to evaluate his sophomore fencers. The Crimson won without two key performers. Larry Cetrulo and Paul Viita. Cetrulo was number one saber last year and his return will greatly strengthen the weapon. Viita will bolster the epee.

There were no surprises in the match against SMU. Epee. as expected, was the Crimson's strong point. The fencers did establish themselves as a potent squad despite the loss from last year's squad of Tom Keller, Tom Abbott, and Geza Tetrallyay. The first real test of the Crimson and particularly of its promising sophomores will come next week in New York. Ruderman is optimistic that the team spirit and depth demonstrated yesterday will carry the fencers over CCNY.