It is All St. Paul Final Tomorrow

#1 posting 5.18.2006

After the first day of the state individual touranment it will be an all St. Paul semifinals. In fact it will be an all Harding semifinal on one half of the singles side, and an all Como Park semis in the doubles side. Como Park's Sheng Yang joins the doubles team for one spot in the semis. Arlington's Xiong Yang will face Sheng Yang. In the other doubles semi match it will be Mai Tria Lee and Kaabao Yang for Harding's third entry on the day vs Cydney Vang and Yer Vue of Johnson who played singles most of the year, but are partnered in doubles now.
St. Paul had six entries in the quarters with Alvarez from Burnsville and Xiong from Edison getting through the first two rounds.
On the doubles side St. Paul had seven entries with Eden Prairie the only crasher.
Harding will be looking to get the hat trick. They already have the team State title. They are seeking the singles title with #1 Pang Thao and doubles title with #1 Mai Tria Lee and Kaabao Yang.

SINGLES
FIRST ROUND
Pang Thao, Harding def. Mai Ku Moua, Henry 11-0, 11-2
In a match up between the two city champions it was all St. Paul as the #1 overall seed Pang Thao skunked MKM in game one and only gave away two points in game two.
Thao scored three in a row on her second serve and added three more on serve three. At this point three of Thao's points were due to Moua hitting errors. Thao again had a three point run on serve six. Two drops started that run. Thao ended it on her 8th serve with a drop to the left side. All through the match Thao placed the shuttle cross court from Moua. In game one the drop shot was the main point producer for Thao with five.
Game two saw Thao scoring two points right away with a drop and a hitting error. She added three more on serve #2. Moua finally broke through for two points, but they were due to hitting errors. Moua was not able to side out for the game as Thao scored each time she served. The last point was a Moua shot the sailed deep.

Kao Song Yang, Highland Park def. Erica Steele, Eden Prairie 11-0, 11-7
Natalie Hamilton, Humboldt def Nha Phan, SP Central 11-3, 11-4
Chuemai Thao, Edison def Mekka Clark, North 11-7, 11-1
Gabby Alvarez, Burnsville def Karen Obermeyer-Kolb, Johnson 11-7, 11-8
Houa Pha, Henry def Yer Yang, Roosevelt 11-5, 11-2
Pang Shoua Vang, Harding def Heather Morin, Washburn 11-1, 11-0
Pam Vang, Arlington def Pang Thao, Johnson 11-9, 11-6
Xiong Yang, Arlington def Katie Vohnoutka, Eden Prairie 11-7, 11-3

Yer Yang, Como Park def Astia Rope-Baker, Southwest 11-0, 11-7
The next game on court 1
Yang skunked her twin city opponent and it was over very fast. It took Yang three serves to finish game one. On serve two Yang racked up seven points with four due to hitting errors.
Yang had 6 of her points due to ARB hitting errors.
Game two was completely different with ARB scoring the first five points of the game, four on her second serve. Yang didn't get on the scoreboard until her fourth serve where she took advantage of two ARB hitting errors. Yang did not take the lead until her 11th serve at 7-6. ARB had one last point at 7-7. Yang took control on serve 12 10-7 with three points including two clears. To finish the game Yang delivered a smash on serve 13

Khoua Xiong, Highland Park def Nadvia Davis, North 11-2, 11-0
Jaimie Fredrickson, Burnsville def Wanda Vue, South 11-4, 11-4
Sheng Yang, Como Park def Martha Streng, Southwest 11-0, 11-1
Lee Vue, Central def Somaly Yi, Washburn 11-3, 11-5
Ntshua Vang, Roosevelt def Anthia Johnson, Humboldt 11-3, 11-5
Maivue Xiong, Edison def Ma Xiong, South 11-5, 11-0
SWEET 16
Pang Thao, Harding def. Kao Song Yang, Highland Park 4-11, 11-4, 11-9
In the match of the day, at least in the singles division, Thao survived a legitmate scare from KSY. It was a drip, drip, drip beginning as KSY was able to squeeze one point off serves 2 through 5. No one player was able to gain traction. Thao wasn't able to convert a point for five serves. She squeezed off points at service 6 and 8, but sideouts were the rule in this match. In fact most of the crowd in the gym, sensing a classic tussle and perhaps an upset in the making, gravitated to court one. Thao closed the gap to 6-4 after her 14th serve when KSY put the first run of the match together with three points, the first two due to Thao hitting errors. KSY added a clear for point 10 on her 15th serve, and watched a hitting error for the final point. There were 46 serves in this first game.
Thao, with her back to the wall and needing two straight wins, came back in game two with quicker work helped in part to KSY hitting errors. Actually KSY jumped out early 2-0 after one serve, both on Thao hitting errors. After Thao's 3rd serve the #1 seed led 4-2. Two serves later Thao had a 11-4 win. The last six points, all served on the fifth serve came on KSY hitting errors. Only 24 serves were taken in this contest.
KSY got the jump early in the deciding third game 3-0 with two drives and a hitting error. On Thao's second serve she strung 7 points, but this time it was due to Thao's shots starting with a drop, smash, drive. KSY righted herself and took the lead at 8-7 on serve five. KSY's last lead was at 9-8 after her 6th serve. Thao closed out the exciting with three points on her 8th serve with two hitting errors and to finish a big smash. There were 34 serves in the final game.

Natalie Hamilton, Humboldt def Chuemai Thao, Edison 13-10, 11-6
Gabby Alvarez, Burnsville def Houa Pha, Henry 11-2, 11-8
Pang Shoua Vang, Harding def Pam Vang, Arlington 7-11, 11-4, 11-6
Xiong Yang, Arlington def Yer Yang, Como Park 11-4, 11-0
Khoua Xiong, Highland Park def Jaimie Fredrickson, Burnsville 11-4, 11-0
Sheng Yang, Como Park def Lee Vue, Central 13-12, 0-11, 11-2
Maivue Xiong, Edison def Ntshua Vang, Roosevelt 11-1, 11-1
QUARTERFINALS
Pang Thao, Harding def. Natalie Hamilton, Humboldt 11-3, 11-1
This was a snap compared to the sweet 16 round for Thao. Thao scored each and every time she served in game one. Thao opened with three straight and padded the lead on her second serve with four more including the last two drops. Hamilton did not get on the board until serve #4 with three points--all hitting errors. Thao finished game one as she finished game 3 in the sweet 16 with a smash. 22 serves total got the job done.
Things did not go well for Hamilton in game two. In fact the body language even before the start of game one indicated to me that Hamilton had surrendered. It appeared that lack of effort conceded the game to Thao. After the first serve in game two the white flag was beginning to fly. Thao ripped off six points to start, four of which came by hitting errors. Hamilton managed to get a point on her first serve due to Thao's hitting error. After Thao's fourth serve it was over. She added three more on that serve. There were only 18 serves for this game.

Pang Shoua Vang, Harding def Gabby Alvarez, Burnsville 11-6, 11-1
Alvarez started off up 2-0 after her second serve. She had an ace on point two as PSV guessed long. PSV got her first point on her sixth serve on Alvarez's hitting error. PSV took the lead 5-3 after her 8th serve. Three points were due to hitting errors. Alvarez came back with her 9th serve to retake the lead 6-5. PSV added four points on her 11th serve, again three coming from hitting errors. Alvarez added a point on her 10th serve on a drop to the right side, but PSV scored on serve 12 and 13. The last point coming on a smash. 42 serves put this game second to the Thao/KSY match.
The second game broke open on PSV's fourth serve as she strung together 7 points and a 9-0 lead. Four of the points came via hitting errors. PSV added one more point on serve six with another hitting error point before Alvarez gained her first point on a hitting error. PSV finished the game on her 7th serve on a hitting error. 24 serves were all it took for this game.

Xiong Yang, Arlington def Khoua Xiong, Highland Park 11-5, 11-4
Sheng Yang, Como Park def Maivue Xiong, Edison 11-7, 11-2
SEMIFINALS
Tomorrow at 3 pm at Harding
Pang Thao, Harding vs Pang Shoua Vang, Harding
Xiong Yang, Arlington vs Sheng Yang, Como Park

DOUBLES
FIRST ROUND
Mai Tria Lee/Kaabao Yang, Harding def Mai Chia Yang/Yer Yang, Henry 15-4, 15-3
Yer Vang/Phetsamay Chindavong, Central def Nicole Weishaar/Vanessa Jones, Washburn 15-0, 15-1
Katherine McQuarter/Karen Perault-Boughton, South def Poua Khang/Vang Khang, North 15-0, 15-11
Linda Xiong/Pakou Vang, Johnson def Michelle Teigland/Lindsey Mortinson, Burnsville 15-2, 9-15, 15-4
Y/See Xiong, Edison def Pa Vue/Bao Vang, Roosevelt 15-5, 15-6
Cydney Vang/Yer Vue, Johnson def Bee Vang/Emily Huynh, Highland Park 15-6, 15-8
Danielle Meservy/Sokhi Tong, Eden Prairie def Ka Yang/Hnou Xiong, Arlington 15-4, 17-15
Katie Brugh/Brianna Lutz, Burnsville def Choua Vang/Jillian Vue, Humboldt 15-5, 15-7
Joua Lor/Cassey Quach, Central def Panhia Lee/Shoua Thao, Highland Park 15-0, 15-2
Kung Choney/Tenzin Wangmo, Roosevelt def Kiara Nelson/Sassy Yang, North 15-0, 15-0
Dee Xiong/Paosue Vue, Como Park def Kalia Yang/Lee Thao, Humboldt 15-11, 15-12
Nong Vue/Mee Vang, Henry def Ala Xiong/Charlotte Rymanowski, Edison 15-4, 15-3
Dia Xiong/Panhia Yang, Harding def Larysa Euteneuer/Rebecca Wade, Eden Prairie 2-15, 15-12, 15-10
Ping Hoang/Ka Yang, Como Park def Abby Behl/Lydia Kelly, Southwest 15-9, 15-5
Vansana Sisomphane/Danielle Sack, Washburn def. Rachel Loh/Melissa Lynn, Southwest 15-10, 18-17
Yer Vang/Khue Yang, Arlington def Kristina Thoa/Mai Tao Yang, South 15-3, 15-5
SWEET 16
Mai Tria Lee/Kaabao Yang, Harding def Yer Vang/Phetsamay Chindavong, Central 15-3, 15-5
Linda Xiong/Pakou Vang, Johnson def Katherine McQuarter/Karen Perault-Boughton, South 15-8, 15-2
Cydney Vang/Yer Vue, Johnson def Y/See Xiong, Edison 10-15, 15-10, 15-3
Danielle Meservy/Sokhi Tong, Eden Prairie def Katie Brugh/Brianna Lutz, Burnsville 10-15, 15-12, 15-13
Joua Lor/Cassey Quach, Central def Kung Choney/Tenzin Wangmo, Roosevelt 15-1, 15-0
Dee Xiong/Paosue Vue, Como Park def Nong Vue/Mee Vang, Henry 15-0, 15-4
Ping Hoang/Ka Yang, Como Park def Dia Xiong/Panhia Yang, Harding 8-15, 15-12, 15-11
Yer Vang/Khue Yang, Arlington def Vansana Sisomphane/Danielle Sack, Washburn 15-0, 15-1
QUARTERFINALS
Mai Tria Lee/Kaabao Yang, Harding def Linda Xiong/Pakou Vang, Johnson 15-4, 15-3
Cydney Vang/Yer Vue, Johnson def Danielle Meservy/Sokhi Tong, Eden Prairie 17-15, 6-15, 15-4
I only saw the third game in this contest and it broke open in the fifth serving sequence when Johnson duo added six points to go up 10-2. Johnson started the run with an ace and then a drop before four hitting errors kicked in. 43 serves finished this game.
Dee Xiong/Paosue Vue, Como Park def Joua Lor/Cassey Quach, Central 15-9, 15-10
Ping Hoang/Ka Yang, Como Park def Yer Vang/Khue Yang, Arlington 15-10, 15-8
SEMIFINALS
Tomorrow at Harding at 3pm
Mai Tria Lee/Kaabao Yang, Harding vs Cydney Vang/Yer Vue, Johnson
Dee Xiong/Paosue Vue, Como Park vs Ping Hoang/Ka Yang, Como Park

Both Minneapolis city singles and doubles champs exited after the first round. Behl and Kelly were ousted by the Como Park duo Ping Hoang and Ka Yang

Tomorrow after the MN State finals