Out & About: Mpls Washburn/Mpls Southwest

#2 posting 3.27.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

MINNEAPOLIS WASHBURN millers 4
MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST lakers 3

Washburn picked up their first win of the year (1-2) with a narrow 4-3 win at home on Tuesday afternoon. They split the singles taking 1 and 3, and won the first two doubles for the win. All four wins came in early. SW took the last three matches to be decided. SW was missing their 2nd and 3rd singles and a member of their 2nd doubles team. The Lakers also picked up their first loss of the year (2-1)

FIRST SINGLES
Rina Maezato of Washburn won both games in her match, but she started off down 4-1 in the first game. She didn't take the lead until her fourth serve with three straight points 12-9. Maezato was able to side out four of the last five serves by Martha Streng, while scoring on her serve 5/6 of her last serves in that contest. Maezato took game one 21-13.
Just like in the first game Streng took an early lead at 6-4. Maezato ran off five straight points and took the lead at 10-6 on her fourth serve. She never trailed after that. Both players closed out by forcing serve. Of the last 9 serves, 8 were one and done. Streng was able to squeeze one point on her 8th serve, but Maezato shut her down the next three times. Maezato finished game two up 21-18.

Side Out %: Maezato, Washburn 11/19: .579; Streng, Southwest 8/19: .421
Points scored
Maezato: 42 points: 22 SW hitting errors; 7 drives; 4 smashes, 4 drops; 3 clears; 2 aces
Streng: 31 points: 18 W Hitting errors; 8 drives; 4 clears; 3 W serving errors; 2 smashes; 2 drops; 1 ace

3RD DOUBLES
At this point the match was decided in favor of Washburn. This match had been split in the first two games before I arrived. The Washburn pair led 4-1 early, but five straight service points by SW gave them the lead Washburn did tie it up at 8, but the counting in this game was off according to my numbers. Eventually SW did win, but the numbers I had were 20-12 SW. There were quite a few fans (swing and a miss) in this game with 13 between the two teams. SW gave Washburn 6 points on Fans, while receiving 7 from Washburn. The side out % actually favored Washburn at .429 to .286, but SW was able to make better use of their serves with runs of five, four and three. SW won this contest 21-10 in the book, but I had it as I said before 20-12. Washburn won the first game in the set 21-17, while SW took game two 21-13.
One of the SW duo in the 3rd doubles match got so warm she removed her t shirt and played in her sports bra. That was a contrast to the some of the recent immigrants who were covered from head to toe in flowing garments.

SINGLES
1: Rina Maezato (W) def. Martha Streng 21-13, 21-18
2: Emma Kullberg (SW) def. Dani Sack 17-21, 21-18, 21-15
3: Molly Yi (W) def. Anna Yarborough 21-16, 22-21
4: Maya Adler (SW) def. Paris Koehler 21-19, 21-18
DOUBLES
1: Mai Vang/Xee Lee (W) def. Betsy Multoy/Camille Mahlum 21-17, 22-20
2: Montisha Puthawong/Jennie Harrop (W) def. Sarah ?/Karen Hammes 21-15, 21-4
3: Annaka Rosenstone/Abby Knutson (SW) def. Troy Vathe/Lori Lais 17-21, 21-13, 21-10

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Games: Washburn 5-4 .556
Points: Washburn 176-170; .509
decided by 2 or under: 1-1
decided by 10+: 0-0
DOUBLES
games: Washburn 5-2, .714
points: 129-115, .529
decided by 2 or under: Washburn 1-0
decided by 10+: 1-1

Next up: tomorrow