PCC, Yao State 2nd Place In Women's Badminton
South Coast Conference champion Pasadena City College had to settle for second place in both the state team championship final and the individual singles competition at the 2019 CCCAA State Women's Badminton Champoinships held at PCC's Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium May 9-11.
Appearing in their fourth consecutive state final, the Lancers saw their 2-year run as champions stopped by Fresno City College, 12-5, on May 9. PCC (9-3 overall) had reached the state final after rallying to win the SoCal championship over San Diego City College, 12-9, on May 1. In that match, the Lancers were down 9-8 going into the final doubles round and won both doubles matches, each going the three full sets.
In the Individual Championships, Pasadena sophomore Xiaoming Yao became the fourth Lancer in the last five years to reach the state singles final, but her title aspirations were dashed by San Diego's Sum Yin Ngai in straight sets, 21-11, 21-10 on May 11. The doubles pair of Yao and Jessica Lee reached the state semifinals and earned a medal for their accomplishments.
Pasadena won their fifth straight SCC title (15th in its history) and extended its conference winning streak to 47 matches since the start of the 2015 season, all under head coach Jen Ho, who took over the program that year.
Yao was the conference's Player of the Year as the top seed out of the conference and Yao-Lee the SCC Top Doubles Pair.