Merchant Named MVP Following ACC Fencing Team Competition

Sunday, February 28

9:30 AM

North Carolina

ACC Fencing Championship (Team Competition)

Reza Merchant
ACC Championship
University of North Carolina Fencing
Carmichael Arena
Chapel Hill, NC
Saturday, February 27, 2021

Reza Merchant was named MVP on Sunday following the ACC Men's Fencing Championship.

Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications

February 28, 2021 | Fencing

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By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After winning a gold medal on Saturday, North Carolina freshman Reza Merchant was named men's MVP on Sunday following the team portion of the Atlantic Coast Conference Fencing Championships, held at UNC's Carmichael Arena.

Duke won both the men's and women's team titles, with the men's decided by a fence-off tiebreaker.

The Tar Heel women opened the competition with a 19-8 team victory over Boston College. Duke beat BC then defeated the Tar Heels 16-11 to take the first ACC Championship in program history. The epee squad provided the highlight for UNC, beating the Blue Devils 6-3 after winning against the Eagles by the same score to finish the day undefeated.

With the same order in the afternoon men's competition, the Tar Heel men opened with a 15-12 victory over BC. The Eagles then edged Duke 14-13. In the day's final meet, the Blue Devils beat the Tar Heels 18-9 to leave each team 1-1 and force a fence-off.

It's the second consecutive time an ACC Championship at Carmichael has ended with a fence-off. Last time, in 2018, it was the Tar Heel women who pulled off the dramatic upset to claim the crown. This time it was Duke celebrating when the dust cleared.

Merchant went 6-0 in UNC's meets against BC and Duke to earn MVP honors. He's the first Tar Heel men's fencer to earn the honor since the conference tournament was reinstated in 2015.

The Tar Heels will host the Blue Devils again on March 14 for the final competition prior to the NCAA Championships March 25-28 at Penn State.

2021 ACC Fencing Championships Results
Women's Team Championship
1. Duke 2-0
2. North Carolina, 1-1
3. Boston College, 0-2

North Carolina def. Boston College, 19-8 (S54/F81/E63)
Duke def. Boston College, 20-7 (S63/F81/E63)
Duke def. North Carolina, 16-11 (S63/F72/E36)

2021 Women's Most Valuable Fencer – Zoe Superville, Foil, Duke

Men's Team Championship
1. Duke, 1-1*
2. North Carolina, 1-1
3. Boston College, 1-1
*won 3-team fence-off

North Carolina def Boston College, 15-12 (S63/F36/E63)
Boston College def Duke, 14-13 (S63/F54/E36)
Duke def North Carolina, 18-9 (S63/F90/E36)

2021 Men's Most Valuable Fencer – Reza Merchant, Epee, North Carolina