It was a chance meeting off an Indiana highway.

On her way back home to South Bend, Ind., on Saturday, Northwestern fencer Maggie Kebrdle saw the Notre Dame fencing team at a roadside rest area.

Just hours earlier the Fighting Irish had handed the No.4 Wildcats their first loss of the season. But there wasn’t any verbal fencing during the pit stop between Kebrdle and the Irish. Only a few friendly parries.

In fact, Kebrdle said she’s on good terms with Notre Dame. She has even trained under Fighting Irish coaches.

But at this weekend’s Notre Dame Duals, things will be more intense. Revenge is definitely on the brain for the Cats (18-1) after their 14-13 loss to No. 7 Notre Dame at last weekend’s NU Duals.

Even Kebrdle is pumped. She didn’t fence against the Irish because of an allergic reaction to medication. Her return to the starting lineup will give the foil team a boost after its 7-2 defeat last week at the hands of the Irish.

“It’s a personal rivalry for me,” said Kebrdle, a junior. “I’m very anxious to see how I do.”

Kebrdle isn’t the only one looking forward to the rematch. Junior sabre fencer Kate Frambach went 0-3 against Notre Dame.

“Last weekend was very frustrating,” Frambach said. “I know I can have a better showing against them.”

Frambach said she has learned from her defeats and will try out a few different maneuvers this time around. One of her new wrinkles is harassing the Irish fencers’ attack when they chase her down the strip.

As a whole, the sabre squad, which lost 6-3 to the Irish, will attempt to counterattack sooner.

“We’ve been working a lot on immediate repost,” assistant coach Ed Kaihatsu said. “Their sabre team is quick on its feet. We have to hit them right away.”

While both the sabre and foil squads fell to the Irish last week, the