Momentum is a funny thing. It sucks a team into a losing streak just as easily as it gives the feeling of invincibility to a group of players riding a string of wins. The U of T badminton team are in the latter scenario, with three straight wins to start the second half of the season.

This past weekend the Blues welcomed Ottawa, Ryerson and York to the Athletic Centre for the East Sectional #2 tournament. They sent all of their OUA East foes packing with losses in the best of eleven format (called a “tie”). Saturday, they beat a travel-weary Ottawa squad in a tightly contested 6-5 win before handling Ryerson (8-3 win) and York (7-4 win) on Sunday.

“We’re finally shaping up the lineup, knowing what each player can do and where they’re more comfortable at,” said 2000-01 female OUA MVP Edith Chow. “Now we’re getting ready for the playoffs.”

Entering the last match of the tie, Toronto had already clinched the win with an overall lead in matches, 6-4. However, a win in mixed doubles by Ling Ho and Gordon Chiu vaulted the Blues into coveted territory.

“I didn’t tell them about it until after the first game,” said fourth-year coach Wayne King of the importance of the match in which Ho and Chiu stormed back from a 15-5 loss in the first game to win the next two: 15-9, 15-6.

The overall 7-4 outcome means the Blues are alone at third overall in the OUA standings, despite having an identical record to York’s.

The tiebreaker is a head-to-head measure of matches won within each tie and while the Gee Gees hold an edge on the Blues, Toronto’s victory over York gives them a couple of wins on their crosstown rivals (York defeated the Blues 6-5 in an earlier tie).

If the Blues can hold on to third or better they will avoid having to play OUA powerhouse Western (11-0) until the final round of the playoffs. The conference championships are to take place in London during mid-February.

Chow extended her unbeaten record in singles play this season to eleven matches, with three routine wins in #1 women’s singles. Equally impressive was the play of second-year Van Ta, who swept her matches in #2 women’s singles to improve her singles record to 9-2 this year. The duo combined to sweep all of their #1 doubles matches.

In men’s play, #2 singles Mike Glenney produced a 15-11, 15-2 drubbing of York’s Andrew Chin by taking advantage of his improved fitness level.

“I’ve been trying this year to keep the rallies going because I’m in fairly good shape,” said Glenney.

King has managed to keep the Blues competitive (5th place OUA in 2001) while retooling for what he hopes will become a dominant program in the near future.

After losing a lot of talent in his first year with the program, he has concentrated on bringing in talented rookies with strong work ethics and sound fundamentals to push the program to the next level.

This year’s team includes six rookies (three of whom produced victories over the weekend) who complement the veteran leadership of Chow, Glenney, captain Denis Daly and women’s team leader Lifen Liu.

“All my prior experience with badminton was individual based,” says rookie Phillip Bennington. “To be part of a team is actually a lot more fun.”

The team next travels to Ottawa for the Full Crossover on February 2 and 3.