Papailas Receives NCAA Bid

The individual fencing career of Harvard women's fencing Captain Penelope Papailias will last another day.

Papailias, a three-time captain of the Crimson, was awarded one of five at-large bids to the NCAA tournament earlier this week.

The selection marks the fourth consecutive year Papailias has qualified for NCAAs. She placed 10th each of the last two seasons after finishing 21st in the nation as a freshman.

In contrast to the last three seasons--when she qualified based on her performance in the Northeast Regionals--Papailias had to wait for a call from the NCAA committee this year.

Papailias placed sixth at the Regionals in New Haven, Conn., two weeks ago, after finishing second to teammate Kristina Perkin in the New England Championships last month. The top five finishers at Regionals received automatic bids.

Papailias will also compete in the team competition along with Harvard's Amanda Leness, Amy Neuhardt and Perkin.