Beijing 2008 Olympic silver-medalist Heather Fell was the highest-ranked British woman at the opening Modern Pentathlon World Cup of the year.
Fell was a lowly 27th after the opening fencing discipline but battled her way up the field to finish ninth at Palm Springs in California.
Team-mate Kate French came home in 19th place and Katy Burke was 21st, while 18-year-old Jo Muir finished 30th on her World Cup debut.
The British team return to their University of Bath training base with a bronze medal, won by 19-year-old Joe Evans in the men's competition.
