Badminton: Buffalo Grove's Appelt/MacDonald, Fremd's Li win three times in championship bracket

Buffalo Grove seniors Tori Appelt and Allison MacDonald won three times Friday in the championshp draw of the first day of the high school badminton state tournament at Eastern Illinois University.

The Bison tandem won its first two matches in two games before earning a 13-21, 21-5, 21-7 victory over Andrew's Erin and Katie Daly in the third round.

Next up for Appelt/MacDonald as the tournament continues Saturday is a quarterfinal matchup against Girija Vaidya/Allison Yu of Metea Valley.

Buffalo Grove's other doubles tandem, Katie Jarosz/Megan Gamber, won its first match before falling 21-13, 21-8 to New Trier's Natalie Mardoian/Kaylin Steinberg in the second round. Jarosz/Gamber later topped Andrews' Daly pairing 21-13, 21-13 in the fourth round of the consolation bracket.

Neuqua Valley has 11 points to lead the team race, with Naperville North (8.5) in second and Hinsdale South (8) in third. Buffalo Grove (7 points) is in a three-way tie for sixth place with Fremd.

The Vikings have Jenny Li still playing in the singles championship draw after her third-round victory over York's Julia Dierksheide. Li prevailed 16-21, 21-11, 21-13.

Fremd is also getting points from Hannah Chen, who won a 21-19, 21-17 decision against Neuqua Valley's Arthi Cunkari in the fourth round of consolation-bracket play.