California Community Colleges
Commission on Athletics
Women's Badminton Championship

Team Championship

May 8, 2003
Pasadena City College

YEH SISTERS LEAD IRVINE VALLEY TO 2ND STRAIGHT
STATE WOMEN'S BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIP

Rulan and Rulien Yeh, identical twins, are nearly impossible to tell apart up close or on the badminton floor. The Irvine Valley College pair became double trouble for DeAnza as the Lasers won their second consecutive state title, 18-3, in the COA California Community College Women's Badminton Team Championships Thursday at Pasadena City College.

The Yehs each swept two singles matches and teamed together won two doubles contests to score nearly half of Irvine Valley's points in the finals match. IVC went undefeated for the second consecutive season, finishing at 16-0. The Lasers have won 31 consecutive matches since the start of the 2002 season.
DeAnza finished the year at 8-1, having previously played against only Northern California competition.

"Irvine Valley is the strongest team I've seen in the four years since (the sport became intercollegiate)," DeAnza Coach Michael Gervasoni said.

"From player one to player nine they have solid players who have all good badminton experience outside of the college arena. We were missing our No. 3 player because she was taking midterms, but it wouldn¹t have mattered in the outcome."

Despite the 15-point difference in victory, Irvine Valley Coach Martin McGrogan praised his finals opponent.

"They extended us to three games in several of the matches," McGrogan said. "DeAnza was certainly the most competitive team we faced this season. We have great depth with 10 players on the team, including five returning players from last year's state champion. The Yehs are freshmen and just super kids with a good deal of talent."

Rulien Yeh, seeded No. 2 for the match, had an early key win against DeAnza's No. 1 player Erica Lin in the first round, 11-7, 13-10. Yeh fought back from a 10-4 deficit to win the second and final game.

"I was nervous because I felt I might lose that second game," Yeh said. "I started smashing the ball and that starting working for me."
Besides the Yeh sisters, Irvine's Brita Kjalstrom, Jenna Chiu and Jamie Gong all won two singles matches, while Midori Tanaka split her pair of singles. DeAnza's only singles win was recorded by No. 5 Connie Wong against Tanaka, 11-6, 11-1. Chiu had a marathon win over Phung Lau in No. 4 singles, 11-5, 11-13, 11-6.

In doubles, the Yehs made quick work of Lin and Liz Nguyen, 11-2, 11-2, in No. 1 play, and also downed the DeAnza No. 2 team of Lau and Phoung Ho, 11-8, 11-2. The Irvine teams of Chiu and Suzanne Wong, and Kitty Yee Wong and Grace Leung each scored on doubles win. DeAnza's Lin-Nguyen downed Chiu-Wong, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 for the Lady Dons only doubles triumph.

Irvine Valley 18, De Anza 3

SINGLES - Rulan Yeh (I) d. Erica Lin, 11-1, 11-2; d. Liz Nguyen, 11-1, 11-2; Rulien Yeh (I) d. Lin, 11-7, 13-10; d. Nguyen, 11-2, 11-6; Brita Kjalstrom
(I) d. Phuong Ho, 11-7, 11-7; d. Phung Lau, 11-1, 11-1; Jenna Chiu (I) d. Ho, 11-8, 11-2; d. Lau, 11-5, 11-13, 11-6; Jamie Gong (I) d. Connie Wong, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5; d. Natalie Huynh, 11-0, 11-0; Midori Tanaka (I) lost to Wong (D), 11-6, 11-1; d. Huynh 3-11, 11-5, 11-5.

DOUBLES - Ruli. Yeh-Rula. Yeh (I) d. Lin-Nguyen, 11-2, 11-2; d. Ho-Lau, 11-8, 11-2; Chiu-Suzanne Wong (I) lost to Lin-Nguyen (D), 8-11, 11-8, 11-9; d. Ho-Lau, 11-6, 11-0; Kitty Yee Wong-Grace Leung (I) d. Huynh-Wong, 2-11, 11-9, 11-5.

Irvine Valley (16-0) wins second straight State Championship. De Anza (8-1).

Reported by Robert Lewis, PCC SID