Yao Huang Photo By: Evan Rosen/The Triangle

Yao Huang leads the USA Women’s Table Tennis team to Vancouver after finishing the trials 8-0.

Yao Huang got all that she could handle from Jacqueline Lee (6-2), who held a 3-2 advantage before Huang took the last two games (11-5)(10-12)(7-11)(11-8)(8-11)(11-9)(11-5). Lee, who is also headed to Vancouver, quietly made her way to the top of the standings and finished in third place.

Nan Li (7-1) finished in 2nd place after sweeping Jasna Reed out of contention (12-10)(11-7)(11-8)(11-9). Reed was visibly frustrated throughout the match, slamming her racket down in disgust during the third game. Reed started the trials 4-0, but lost her last four matches to finish 4-4.

The fourth member of the women’s team will be Whitney Ping, who finished the trials with a 5-3 record. Her road to Vancouver wasn’t easy, as she struggled for most of her final match against winless Barbara Wei. Ping was down 3-1 before rallying to a seven game victory (8-11)(11-5)(5-11)(8-11)(11-9)(11-6)(11-8).

Ariel Hsing (2-6) won her second match of the tournament with a victory over Olena Sowers (4-11)(11-7)(3-11)(11-9)(11-9)(11-5), who finished 1-7.

The USA team will travel to Vancouver to face Team Canada in the next step for these players to the Beijing Olympics. The top players from Vancouver will comprise the North American team, which will compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Here are the final women’s standings:

1. Yao Huang (8-0)
2. Nan Li (7-1)
3. Jacqueline Lee (6-2)
4. Whitney Ping (5-3)
5. Jasna Reed (4-4)
6. Judy Hugh (4-4)
7. Ariel Hsing (2-6)
8. Olean Sowers (1-7)
9. Barbara Wei (0-8)