After a seeding round, Papailias drew the number-six seed.

"I was fencing really well," Papailias said, "probably as good as all season."

However, Papailias fell in the first round to Notre Dame's Ann Barreda, 8-2, in the first round.

Papailias won one of her three matches, defeating Jean Yee of Penn, 8-7.

"I won by the skin of my teeth," Papailias said.

Papailias was eliminated in the next round by Penn's Jane Paul, 8-0.

Mary Sullivan of Notre Dame defeated Loredana Ranza of Wayne St. to capture the individual championship.

"Finishing eighth was pretty respectable," Papailias said. "We fenced really well, and we're looking towards next year."

In addition to Papailias, junior Kristina Perkin and sophomores Amy Neuhardt and Michelle Kosch return next year.

The Champ

Harvard men's fencer and defending NCAA epee champion Jim O'Neil will try to defend his championship this weekend in Princeton.

O'Neill, who will probably draw the number-one seed, is fresh off winning the Eastern Championships last week. O'Neill was an all-Ivy selection for the third consecutive year.

Adam Weintraub, another member of the men's team, also advanced to the NCAA Championships.

"It's his first national competition" O'Neill said, "so he should get a lot of experience. He's been fencing really well lately."

O'Neill last year won the title with a last-minute rally over John O'Laughlin of Penn.

"There should be a lot of tough competion," O'Neill said.