HAWKS ROWE AND DUONG PERFECT ON WAY TO 2019 CCAA WOMEN’S DOUBLES GOLD

TRURO, NS: The duo of Chloe Rowe and Victoria Duong left no question in anyone's minds that they are the number one women's doubles team in Canada, as they claimed the 2019 CCAA National Gold Medal on Saturday at Dalhousie A.C. in Nova Scotia.

After a 5-0 round robin and semifinal, where they won by an average of 21-7, Rowe and Duong were faced with a tougher test in the final in the pair of Ryo Kuramochi and Bea Bernardo of NAIT (ACAC).

Although the Alberta twosome played well, they still could not derail the Hawks pairing, with Humber taking the match 2-0, and by identical set scores of 21-12. Even the break scores were virtually the same, as Humber led set one 11-5 and set two 11-6.

The road to the national championships was a bumpy one, as Duong played through a serious injury at provincials, and had partner Rowe pick up a bigger load in the Ontario playdowns. Duong, although still taped heavily and in pain, made a difference with her fine play.

Once again, off on the sidelines and in the crowd, it was clear that the always evident Mike Kopinak "fist pump" came into play, signifying a Hawks win.

This is Rowe's third consecutive CCAA gold medal, and Duong's first.