The University of Toronto Varsity Blues badminton team continued their winning ways with an 11-2 victory over the York Lions on Saturday, October 17 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.
The women’s team maintained their undefeated record, while the men dropped a mere two points, despite missing number one Jesse Assing (Bethany, Ont.) on the day.
First-year standout Michele Li (Richmond Hill, Ont.) dominated the number one women’s singles match 21-7, 21-14 and paired up with Josee Matte (Brantford, Ont.) to handily win the number one doubles match 21-6, 21-16.
Matte, and mixed doubles partner Raymond Zhang (Toronto) came out with a huge 21-15, 21-17 victory over York’s highly touted Erik Chong and Donna Ho.
Blues veteran Melissa Hill (Oakville, Ont.) was on top of her game, defeating Lyllianne Nualan in the number two singles match 21-2, 21-3 and winning the number one mixed doubles match with Ajax, Ont. native Graeme MacInnes 21-12, 21-15.
Women's team captain Shilin Cheung (Hong Kong) easily took the number three singles match 21-4, 21-4 and then paired up with rookie Tonia Kwok (Hong Kong) to pull out a close three-set victory over Ros Aitken and Kitty Ma 21-7, 10-21 21-13. The York pair tried to focus their shots on the inexperienced Kwok but the first-year commerce major held her own with precise serving and stellar defence. Kwok was named the female player of the competition as voted by the team.
In men's doubles, Zhang, who was later selected as the male player of the competition, and rookie Mark Chang (Vancouver, B.C.) played a solid game, however, were no match for York's Kevin Cheng and Erik Chong. Men’s team captain Mike Lawler paired with rookie and fellow Peterborough, Ont. native Sean MacPherson to win the number two doubles match 21-17, 21-8.
Rookies Clifton Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) and Juliet Huang (Toronto) played a very close three-game match taking the number three mixed doubles game 21-15, 16-21, 21-12. This was Huang’s first match after suffering a knee injury in the preseason and Leung played extremely well as he did not allow the Lions to get an attack against his partner.
Full Results
The Varsity Blues return to the court next Saturday, October 24 when they host the Waterloo Warriors at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Matches are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Notes:
The Blues will be without Michelle Li next weekend, as she is competing in the world junior championships in Malaysia.
For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.
