PCC Season Opener: Badminton Aiming For State Title

The Pasadena City College women’s badminton team isn’t just looking to win another South Coast Conference title this season, the 2016 Lancers want more.

“We have some great returning players, so I think we have a good chance at winning the state team title,” said PCC second-year head coach Jennifer Ho. The Lancers have never won the state team crown in badminton since it became an intercollegiate sport in 2000. The closest the Lancers came was in 2010 when they were state runner-up to City College of San Francisco.

If PCC were to accomplish the feat, it would do it on its home courts as the Lancers host the CCCAA State Tournament at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium on May 12-14. The team final takes place on May 12 with the individual portion of the tourney on May 13-14.

PCC returns state individual doubles champions in sophomores Rebecca Tzou and Sandra (Zin Win) Maw. Tzou also finished as the state runner-up in singles in a banner freshman 2015 season.

One other returning letterman joins that talented pair in the 6-player top ladder in Eugenia Mendez at No. 3. Tzou is No. 1 and Maw is No. 2.

While Noemi Diaz, Jennifer Delgado and Diana Resendiz also return from last season, Ho has inserted three freshmen into the individuals ladder in Ana Espinoza (Azusa High), Kim Jones (Pasadena HS), and Daniela Raygoza (also Azusa).

Rounding out the ’16 Lancers are newcomers Cindy Clarissa (Loera), Hong Yan Liu (from China), and Chaw Mon (Arcadia High).

As defending undefeated SCC champions, the Lancers saw a perfect 13-0 record stopped in the SoCal Championship against San Diego City College in a hard-fought 11-10 defeat. PCC wants to learn from that match.

“We had freshmen who were nervous and San Diego took advantage of it,” Ho said of last year’s stinging finish. “This year, Tzou and Maw are competitors and understand that their leadership will help the others. We have the potential to be successful.”

On Feb. 19, PCC opened the ’16 season with its 13th straight conference victory, easily winning at East Los Angeles, 19-2. Tzou and Maw received some sharp competiton from Huskies’ No. 1 Jean Buenaflor. Tzou won 21-12, 21-19 in top singles while Maw eeked out a 21-18, 22-20 victory. Tzou had an easier time with ELAC No. 2 Serena Lien, defeating her 21-1, 21-13 while Maw won 21-18, 21-12.

Tzou-Maw won in doubles over Buenaflor-Vanessa Liang, 21-12, 21-12 and the duo of Lien and Katherine Vong, 21-8, 21-3.

Mendez, Espinoza, Jones and Raygoza all won their two singles in routs. However, ELAC picked up its two points in No. 2 doubles v. Mendez-Raygoza, 22-20, 21-18. The No. 3 Lancers doubles team of Resendiz-Delgado won their lone match, 21-7, 21-6.

The Lancers open their home schedule against El Camino-Compton Center at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium this Friday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.