The UDM men's and women's fencing teams will see their only competitive action of the season at Calihan Hall as the Titans make their first appearance of 2010 as the hosts of the Detroit Invitational at 9 a.m. on Sunday, January 17.

Along with both Titan squads the field of four includes men's and women's teams from Michigan, Michigan State and cross-town foe Wayne State.

Poor road conditions forced the cancellation of the event in 2009, but current Titan junior Brad Coon (Jenison, MI/Hudsonville) was impressive at the 2008 edition, posting a 9-0 record on the day as a freshman. And senior Ashley Colbert (Washington, MI/Romeo), then a sophomore for the Titans, swept matches against Michigan and Michigan State to post a 6-3 mark.

Detroit will look to build upon a solid start to the 2009-10 campaign. A shorthanded squad opened the year in California at the Stanford Duals in November where, despite starting each dual in a 9-0 hole, the women recorded a 15-12 decision over CalTech. And even though the men came out on the short side of a 14-12 dual with CalTech, UDM won all 10 of the bouts fenced. In December the Titans competed at Wayne State in the Istvan Danosi/Michigan Open where four fencers earned podium finishes. Sophomore Michael Purdy-Sachs (Port Huron, MI/Home School) took first in the men's foil, senior Doug Sollman (Sterling Hts., MI/Stevenson) tied for third in the men's sabre and senior Ashlee McLemore (Detroit, MI/Renaissance) tied for third in the women's sabre. Current assistant coach Craig Budzynski competed as well and placed third in the men's foil.

Sunday will be just the second event for Detroit's five newcomers who saw their first career competition at Istvan Danosi. Junior Tim Nelson (Riverview, MI/Gabriel Richard) led a trio of freshman in the men's epee with a ninth-place finish, where freshmen Martin Tomaj (Farmington Hills, MI/Farmington) and Clint Mikek (St. Louis, MI/St. Louis) followed, placing 11th and 13th, respectively. Meanwhile, freshman Jared Sivec (Macomb, MI/Dakota) took 14th in the men's sabre and women's newcomer, freshman Olivia Furnas (Macomb, MI/Dakota), was 15th in the women's sabre.

The season will kick into gear following the Detroit Invitational, as the Titans will suit up four times over the course of the next month, including an Alumni Meet on January 23 as part of UDM's Homecoming festivities.