18 Match Win Streak Snapped

EAST LOS ANGELES --- The two-time defending champion East Los Angles College badminton team had its 18-match regular season win streak end with 21-0 loss to Pasadena City College on Wednesday Feb. 25 in the South Gym.

In the loss, ELAC's No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Chuyan Lao and freshman Cova Ching lost to Pasadena's No. 2 doubles team, 6-21 and 5-21, in one of the closest sets of the day for the Huskies.

ELAC could be in for a long season.

"It will be a rebuilding year because we lost our top players to graduation," said 10-year ELAC Badminton Head Coach Qui Nguy.

Gone from the team are Suki Kwan who transferred to California State University, Long Beach and a CCCAA individual state quarterfinalist last year as was Florencia Zhan Wong. Also Yuki Tai who was a doubles team state finalist along with Kwa.

ELAC and Pasadena won the SCC titles for the past seven consecutive years, ELAC in 2014, 2013 and 2008 and Pasadena from 2009-2013.

ELAC snapped Pasadena's 41-consecutive SCC win streak, with an 11-10 upset in 2013, to tie with the Lancers as the then SCC co-champions.

Pasadena is favored to win the SCC title this year while the Huskies will battle El Camino College for second place, who defeat El Camino Compton College, 19-2, yesterday also in opening season matches.

El Camino College Compton College should be improved according to Nguy. Compton has been winless in SCC play for three years.

The Huskies will travel to Compton on Wednesday, March 3 for a 3 p.m. match.

-Tazdio Garcia