By Jorge Lopez
The badminton team will advance three members to the state championships as a result of a strong showing at the South Coast Conference Individual Tournament at the Manhattan Beach Badminton Club earlier today.
Diana Su, Leanna Xu, and Shirley Su will be advancing to the State Championships in the singles event. Su and Xu will reprent the Huskies in the doubles finals.
Shirley Su who is competing collegiately for the first time, was able to defeat Gabriella Anjani from Pasadena City College in the first round of the SCC Individual Championships.
In the second round she faced El Camino College’s Kumiko Noguchi, the Warrior’s No. 2 singles player, and was able to capture her second win of the tournament.
In the third round Shirley Su was beaten by Kiwi Liang from PCC.
The two wins were good enough for the first year competitor to earn her first trip to the state championships as the SCC’s No. 8-seed.
“After I found out I could get in I was very happy and nervous,” Shirley Su said.
Diana Su defeated Alicia Ledezma from PCC in the first round of the singles and in the second round she was able to top ECC’s Rebecca Maier.
In the third round Diana su fell short of the win, losing to PCC’s Angie Ortiz.
The two victories in the first two rounds were enough to advance Diana Su to state finals as the SCC’s No.7-seed.
Diana Su said it was such a relief to find out that she had made it to state.
Leanna Xu, had a bye in the first round of the SCC tournament.
In the second round she defeated Alicia Boyt From PCC, and lost in the third round against PCC’s Cynthia Gutierrez.
Xu will be advancing to the state championships as the SCC’s No. 6-seed.
“I’m really excited to go for the second year in a row, hoping for better results than last time,” Xu said.
Diana Su and Xu were able to advance to state for the second year as a doubles team.
This duo was put together after Xu’s original partner dropped out earlier this season.
“We got a lot better this time around. We’re picking it up and every one’s doing better,” Xu said.
Xu and Diana Su advanced to the consolation semifinals last year at the state finals. This year they are the SCC’s No. 4-seed.
In the first round of doubles at the SCC finals, the Husky team of Xu-Daina Su defeated a doubles team from ECC, composed of Lindsay Seok and Callie Rodela.
In the second round the duo beat ECC’s Maier and Shannon Hornbeck.
This Husky duo loss a close match in the third round to PCC’s Ortiz and Gutierrez.
“We need to work on team work, but we did pretty well today in our rotation, so we improved on that,” said Diana Su.
“Its great having three players make it to state, with two returners and one (Husky) a first time (qualifier). We need to work on confidence and our serve and not to give up,” Head Coach Qui Nguy said.
The California Community College Athletic Association Badminton State Championships will be held next Friday and Saturday, May 12 and 13, at San Diego City College.