DETROIT (11/16/2019) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's and women's fencing programs open the 2019-20 seasons on Sunday at the annual Istvan Danosi Open, which is held on the campus of Wayne State University at the Mort Harris Recreation and Fitness Center. The action is set to get underway at 8 a.m. ET from Wayne State in Detroit.

Detroit Mercy enters its 21st season under the direction of head coach Todd Dressell at the helm of the Titan men's and women's fencing squads. The Titans competed at the NCAA Men's Fencing National Championships last season with Wiley Dressell, competing in sabre for the red, white and blue.

Returning on the men's team is Jaydon Alojipan, James Baker, Christopher Morrison, Paul Rider, Bryce Sturgis and Peter Swanney, while on the women's fencing squad, Justine Hickey, Savannah Lee, Manal Shaito, Danielle Spencer and Erica Tessmer return for the Titans.

The Titan fencing programs are set to fence a number of times in Detroit during the 2019-20 season, with Detroit Mercy hosting its own invitational on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. Detroit Mercy also competes in the Wayne State Duals on Saturday, Feb. 8, again on the campus of Wayne State University. Detroit Mercy also hosts the 2020 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships from Calihan Hall on Saturday, March 7 before serving as the host institution for the 2020 NCAA National Championships from March 19-22 at the TCF Center in downtown Detroit.

The red, white and blue are off after the Danosi Open for a few weeks, next returning after the New Year's holiday when the Titans host their own invitational on Jan. 12 from Calihan Hall.