Out & About: Edison/Henry

#2 posting 5.1.2007
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MINNEAPOLIS EDISON tommies 4
MINNEAPOLIS HENRY patriots 3

There is a three way tie for first place in Minneapolis with Edison's 4-3 win over Henry. Edison beat Henry for the second time this year. South has beat Edison twice this year. Washburn has thrown a wrench into Edison's and Henry's W/L mark. and North handed South a loss. Edison is done with their conference schedule. Henry will face South on Thursday.

Now, as has been true all year, scores were off. I don't think it is my duty to correct the action. No one asks me. It hurt Henry today. First off in the battle of the Thao sisters in the second game I had Lisa (Henry) winning at 22-20. But they didn't have the score correct on the floor. Chui Mai (Edison) had a 3-0 run to finish 23-21 officially, but I had it 23-22.

But it was at 3rd singles that it really impacted the match. Everyone was finished and it was 3-3. In the third game I had Nhia Yang up 21-19, but the game continued on. Kalia Thao outscored Yang 4-1 to finish officially 24-22 (23-22 in my book). With that win Edison won the match.

FIRST SINGLES
This was the battle of the Thao sisters. Lisa is a senior at Henry. Chui Mai is a Junior at Edison. Mai Chu had problems with her serve with seven serving errors in the first game. Chui Mai brok free from a 6-6 tie to go up 10-6 on her 6th serve with four straight points including one ace. Lisa was not able to side out and Chui Mai milked points on her next three serves. Chui Mai won the first game 21-11.

In game two Lisa broke free with a six point burst on her fifth serve to take a 13-4 lead. Lisa ended her serve with a deep serve. That was the opening Chui Mai needed and she ran off five points on her serve to close to 13-10. Lisa held a 16-12 lead , but on Chui Mai was able to squeeze points on her next two serves and tied it at 16. Chui Mai pushed in front 19-18 and was on the verge at 20-19, but Lisa held it off and scored the next three points. That, in my book remember made it 22-20 Lisa. Both players were quoting the wrong score way earlier than this. Lisa again ended her own service with a deep serve. Two hitting errors later Chui Mai walked off the court with a win.

SIDEOUTS:
Edison 13/19 .684; Henry 11/21 .524
SERVE RUNS:
Edison 4 (longest 5); Henry 1 (6)
POINTS:
Edison 43. Winners 18: Drops 10, Drives 3 (1 soft); Clear 2, Aces 2, Smashes 1
Henry Errors 25: hitting 20 (Net 13, Wide 5, Fan 2); Serving 5 (Deep 3, Wide 1, Net 1)
Henry 33: Winners 10: Drops 6, Smash 1, Ace 1, Clear 1, Drives 1
Edison Errors 23: hitting 16 (Net 9, Wide 4, Fan 2, Drive 1); Serving (Wide 5, Drive 1, Net 1)
TIME: 16:15

THIRD SINGLES
The first game between Kalia Thao of Edison and Hnia Yang of Henry was the side out game as both players had 7 straight side outs. Thao was able to get a point here and there to get ahead 13-8. Thao pushed it up to 17-11. Hitting errors played a huge part in this first game with Thao handing 12 points to Yang and Yang handing 8 to Thao. Thao took the first game 21-15.

In game two Thao jumped out 7-3 and 10-4. That is when Yang picked up her game. Both players were street brawlers. Yang again took advantage of Thao errors--this time 18. Yang only had four winners, but won the game 22-18 (again I am putting out my score).

It was the vital game three that the miscount really mattered, and it happened early in the game. Yang started off with a 3-0 lead and maintained that out to 12-6. Thao eliminated some of her mistakes to close to 17-16. Yang got a side out with a Thao hitting error. Then put down a back hand clear for 19-16 lead (in my books remember). Thao came back with two straight points. Yang got the side out on a hitting error to make it 20-18. A drive by Thao made it 20-19. Then a hitting error in the net made the score 21-19 Yang. The match should have been over. It wasn't. Both traded points. Thao finished the night with three straight points to get the 24-22 win (23-22 in my book).

SIDEOUTS:
Thao 24/39 .615; Yang 24/40 .600
SERVE RUNS:
Thao 1 (longest 3); Yang 1 (3)
POINTS:
Thao 62. Winners 25: Drops 13, Drives 7 (1 soft); Clears 3, Ace 1, Smash 1
Yang Errors 37: hitting 29 (Net 11, Wide 9, Fan 8 Deep 1); Serving 8 (Deep 4, Net 2, Wide 2)
Yang 59: Winners 20: Drops 8, Drives 6, Clears 3, Ace 1, Smash 1, ? 1
Thao Errors 39: hitting 30 (Net 21, Wide 5, Fans 3, Deep 1); Serving 9 (Wide 5, Deep 3, ? 1)
TIME: 28:13

SINGLES
1. Chui Mai Thao (E) def Lisa Thao 21-11, 23-21
2. Mai Vang (H) def See Vang 12-21, 21-8, 21-11
3. Kalia Thao (E) def Hnia Yang 21-15, 18-21, 24-22
4. Padao Yang (H) def Kia Vue 21-13, 21-9
DOUBLES
1. Julie Lor/Panhia Xiong (E) def Yer Yang/Mai Chia Yang 21-17, 21-17
2. Yer Yang/Choua Yang (H) def Ala Xiong /Brenda Vue 21-11, 21-14
3. Karrie Lee/Ly Vang (E) def. Dia Lee/Bao Xiong 21-17, 21-12

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: 2-2
Games: 5-5
Points: Henry 186-169 .524
decided by 10+: Henry 3-1
decided by 3 or less: Edison 2-1
DOUBLES
matches: Edison 2-1 .667
games: Edison 4-2 .667
points: Edison 109-105 .509
decided by 10+: Henry 1-0
decided by 3: none

Next up: tomorrow morning