Out & About: Harding/Arlington

#2 posting 4.30.2007
your daily dose of badminton news & information

ST. PAUL HARDING knights 7
ST. PAUL ARLINGTON phoenix 0

Harding picked up their 11th win, and their 7th shutout with a 7-0 sweep of Arlington. The Phoenix drop to 4-9 on the year. It was the first time they were shut out. Harding was perfect 2-0 at the singles. The only game that Arlington won was at second doubles in the second set. The tightest games took place at second singles with Stephanie King moving up from third singles to fill in for Mee Xiong who was out due to illness. King won a pair of squeakers 22-20 and 23-21 over Ling Wang who earlier in the year was the first singles for Arlington. King may miss the state tournament due to a Model UN event in Washington DC.

I usually come to the badminton events with my rickety blue folding stool. Today I was provided with luxurious comfort with a cushy padded chair to watch the contests. The only thing that was missing was a bowl of chips and a cup holder for an ice cold Diet Coke.

FIRST SINGLES
Pang Thao continued on her quest for another state championship. She had command of the game and looked like she was working on different shots in her arsenal. Thao raced to a 10-2 lead with her patented short serve to the backhand side going for two aces. Pam Vang did rally by holding Thao scoreless for two serving rotations while converting on two of three of her own serves. Vang closed to 12-8. After a Thao sideout drop, she ran off four straight with a couple of clears. Both players sided out three times before Thao finished up with two straight on her serve with a drop the game winner 21-10.

Thao again started off strongly going up 10-3 with a run of five on her fourth serve rotation. Thao had three smashes for points at this juncture. Vang got a side out with a Thao hitting error and then ran off six straight points. She delivered a couple of her own short ace serves and also had a back hand drive for a point. After her serve it was 11-10 Thao. Vang used a smash to side out and then had two points on her serve to take a 13-11 lead. After that Thao finished with a 10-3 run. Thao delivered points on her last three serves. On her 8th serve rotation Thao had four straight points and was on the verge at 20-15. Vang held off with a clear and Thao finished with her own side out on a drop 21-16.

SIDEOUTS:
Thao 11/15 .733; Vang 5/16 .313
SERVE RUNS:
Thao 4 (longest 6); Vang 1 (6)
POINTS:
Thao 42. Winners 27: Drops 8, Clears 8, Smashes 5, Drives 3 (2 short), Aces 3 (3 short)
Vang Errors 15: hitting 15 (Net 8, Wide 5, Deep 2)
Vang 26: Winners 14: Drives 6 (2 short), Clears 2, Drops 2, Smashes 2, Aces 2 (1 short)
Thao Errors 12: hitting 14 (Net 7, Wide 5
TIME: 12:54

FOURTH SINGLES
With Mee Xiong's absence at second varsity singles, Crystal Yang moved up to fourth singles from first JV for Harding. She faced Novia Josiah. Josiah grabbed the early lead at 5-0. Yang tied it at six, but Josiah went back up 12-8 by scoring on her 3rd and 4th serve. Yang took her first lead at 16-15 when Josiah missed on her serve. Yang was able to get the side out on Josiah's last three serve. Yang also was able to utilize her own serve. Yang won on her 10th serve with a deep hitting error 21-17.

Yang jumped in front early by scoring on her 2nd through 5th serve 3-1, 8-2, and 11-3. Josiah regained some momentum with three straight points to close to 11-7. A series of side outs made it 16-10 Yang. When Josiah got the bird on her 7th serve she squeezed two more points out. Yang handcuffed Josiah with a side out smash and never gave the bird back. Yang ran off four in a row including a clear for the 21-12 win.

SIDEOUTS:
Yang 10/16 .625; Josiah 7/18 .389
SERVE RUNS:
Yang 3 (4); Josiah 2 (4)
POINTS:
Yang 42. Winners 25: Drops 9, Drives 8 (3 soft), Smashes 7, Clears 1
Josiah Errors 17: hitting 15 (Nets 10, Wides 3, Deeps 2); serving 2 (wide 2).
Josiah 29: Winners 18: Smashes 5, Drops 3, Aces 2, Drive 2 (2 soft), Clears 1
Yang Errors 11: Hitting errors 11 (Nets 7, Fans 2, Wides 2)
TIME: 15:57

SINGLES
1. Pang Thao (H) def Pam Vang 21-10, 21-16
2. Stephanie King (H) def Ling Wang 22-20, 23-21
3. Kazoua Yang (H) def Cha Her 21-10, 21-17
4. Crystal Yang (H) def Novia Josiah 21-17, 21-12
DOUBLES
1. Dia Xiong/PaNhia Yang (H) def Kosaize Yang/Mai Xiong Vang 21-17, 21-15
2. Pa Yang/Shee Xiong (H) def Kablia Her/Kia Her 21-9, 18-21, 21-11
3. Shee Xiong/Mai Ngia Xiong (H) def Wendy Moua/Mai See Vang 21-13, 21-15

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 4-0 1.000
Games: Harding 8-0 1.000
Points: Harding 171-123 .582
decided by 10+: Harding 2-0
decided by 3 or less: Harding 2-0
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 3-0 1.000
games: Harding 6-1 .857
points: Harding 144-101 .588
decided by 10+: Harding 2-0
decided by 3: Arlington 1-0

Next up: tomorrow morning