The badminton team closed a great season of team play by advancing to the semifinals in the CIF Team tournament and winning the Girls Moore League championship. In doing this, they proved their dominance amidst improved Moore League competition.
On Thursday, May 8, at the Manhattan Beach Badminton Club, the team lost 13-8 to a talented Mira Costa team in the semifinals of the Open Division CIF Team tournament. Head coach Steve Meckna admired their play against a team comprised of experienced club players.
“I’m very satisfied that we showed we belonged in the same division as the very best,” said Meckna.
The games were close, with six of the games going into the third set. The boys doubles team of seniors Andy Nguyen and Chai Vue and the girls doubles team of seniors Jessica Tauch and Cindy Chou won both of their games, respectively.
On April 29, at the Moore League tournament, the girls and boys team finished in first and second place, respectively. Defending champion junior Vattanak Ry lost to Wilson 11-5, 11-4 in the boys singles championship.
“People have good and bad days, and I tried my best,” said Ry. Nguyen and Vue lost 11-3, 10-13, 5-11 to Wilson in the boys doubles final.
The girls dominated the singles & the doubles games. Chou and Tauch won girls doubles 13-10, 7-11, 13-11 over defending champions Millikan.
“They’re incredibly tenacious with keeping the shuttle in play; other teams get frustrated trying to beat them,” said Meckna.
Poly sophomore Mary Nguyen and senior Jennifer Heng took third place in girls doubles in a 11-5, 9-11, 13-12 win over Cabrillo, and sophomore Kristine Nguyen defeated senior Amanda Phou 11-8, 11-3 to win the girls singles championship.
Poly will shift its sights to the CIF Individuals tournament; the date is to be determined.
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