KNIGHTS DEFEAT ELAC, 17-4; REACH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH FOR 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR

The SDCC women's badminton team has qualified for the California Community College Athletic Association championship match for the third straight year after defeating East Los Angeles, 17-4, in the Southern California regional final on Wednesday. The Knights, who are now 7-0 on the season, will play De Anza College (10-0) in the title match for the second consecutive season. That match is scheduled for Thursday, May 8 at 3:00 p.m. on De Anza's campus in Cupertino, Calif.

The Knights, winners of 22 straight regular season matches en route to three consecutive Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championships, got off to a less-than-ideal start by splitting their first round singles matches, 3-3. SDCC's No. 1 Darby Duprat, No. 3 Thao Nguyen, and No. 5 Samantha Graham won their matches while No. 2 Gina NIph, No. 4 Kareen Escobedo, and No. 6 Trinh Lang.

SDCC won all three first round doubles matches to take an 8-3 lead and then clinched the victory by wining five of the six second round singles matches. The Knights put an exclamation point on the day by taking both of the second round doubles matches.

This is the sixth time under head coach Son Nguyen that the Knights have reached the CCCAA championship match. They have won the state title in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2012. 

On May 8, the Knights will have an opportunity to avenge last year's title match loss to De Anza, who edged SDCC, 12-9. 

SCORING RECAP

1st Round Singles
#1 Darby Duprat (SDCC) def. #2 Yuki Tai (ELAC) 21-16, 21-9
#1 Khanh Dinh (ELAC) def. #2 Gina Niph (SDCC) 24-22, 14-21, 21-19
#3 Thao Nguyen (SDCC) def. #4 Chumeng Chen (ELAC) 21-7, 21-4
#3 Suki Kwan (ELAC) def. #4 Kareen Escobedo (SDCC) 16-21, 21-17, 21-11
#5 Samantha Graham (SDCC) def. #6 Han Le (ELAC) 21-6, 21-6
#5 Jasmine Zhan Wong (ELAC) def. #6 Trinh Lang (SDCC) 21-16, 21-8

1st Round Doubles
#1 Duprat/Nguyen (SDCC) def. #2 Tai/Kwan (ELAC) 21-10, 21-9
#2 Niph/Escobedo (SDCC) def. #1 Dinh/Zhan Wong (ELAC) 21-16, 21-10
#3 Graham/Lang (SDCC) def. #3 Chen/Le (ELAC) 21-16, 21-13

2nd Round Singles
#1 Khanh Dinh (ELAC) def. #1 Darby Duprat (SDCC) 21-16, 17-21, 22-20
#2 Gina Niph (SDCC) def. #2 Yuki Tai (ELAC) 21-16, 21-11
#3 Thao Nguyen (SDCC) def. #3 Suki Kwan (ELAC) 21-7, 21-17
#4 Kareen Esobedo (SDCC) def. #4 Chumeng Chen (ELAC) 21-6, 21-4
#5 Samantha Graham (SDCC) def. #5 Jasmine Zhan Wong (ELAC) 21-12, 21-8
#6 Trinh Lang (SDCC) def. #6 Han Le (ELAC) 21-14, 21-14

2nd Round Doubles
#1 Duprat/Nguyen (SDCC) def. #1 Dinh/Zhan Wong (ELAC) 21-11, 21-13
#2 Niph/Escobedo (SDCC) def. #2 Tai/Kwan (ELAC) 21-10, 17-21, 21-11