The Irvine Valley women's badminton team defeatedSan Diego Mesa, 17-4, on the road Wednesday afternoon to move a step closer to the Orange Empire Conference title.

IVC won eight of 12 singles contests and all five doubles matches.

For Irvine Valley, Thuy Hoang swept her two singles matches,21-14, 21-9, and 21-1, 21-5. No. 2 player Vimla Phongasavithas won, 21-15, 21-11, and 21-8, 21-5.

And No. 3 player Ann Nim won her two matches as well. She received a default in the first contest and then won, 21-6, 21-3.

Nancy Chen and Maddie Sapigao each split singles contests.

In doubles action, the team of Phongasavithas and Nim won both matches (21-4, 21-9 and default) and the team of Hoang and Sapigao won 21-16, 21-6, and received a default.

IVC's No. 3 team of Chen and Gigi Siu came out on top, 21-19, 21-15.

Irvine Valley, which improved its conference record to 8-0,can win the conference title outright with a victory at San Diego City on Friday.

The Lasers defeated San Diego City, 13-8, earlier this season.