#1 posting 4.16.2008
badminton news & information
ST. PAUL HIGHLAND PARK scots 4
ST PAUL CENTRAL minutemen 3
Highland Park edged Central 4-3 and it all came down to the last match at 4th singles. HP took the second game by the exact same score as the first in a 21-19 win to beat the visitors. HP took three of the four singles and 2nd doubles to piece together their win. Most contests were over in two sets. The only match that went three games was at second singles with Kari Finseth winning the final set by the narrow margin of 21-19.
FIRST SINGLES
Khoua Xiong beat Yer Chang in two games 21-11 and 21-13.
Xiong used the soft, off speed drive for the first three points of the first game and a potent scoring off her own serve. Chang could not get a side out on any of Xiong's eight serves in game one. Xiong built a lead of 9-3 when Chang had a rally, scoring of two of her serves to cut the margin to 13-8
. Xiong finished with an 8-3 run. The soft drive came up for 7 points in the first game.
In game two continued her point gathering on her serve. Chang got her first side out on Xiong's fifth serve. By that time Xiong led 10-5. The favored point in this game was the drop. Xiong also benefited from Chang hitting errors. Most were sailing deep. Xiong pushed her lead out to 19-9. (My scoring indicates game two was 22-12). A missed serve gave the bird back to Chang. She was able to get a few more points. The match ended on a back hand drop shot.
FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Xiong 12/18-.667; Chang 3/19-.158
SERVE RUNS OF 3+:
Xiong 3, Chang
POINTS:
Xiong 42
Winners: 26 Soft Drives 10, Smashes 6, Drops 5, Aces 2, Drives 2, Clears 1
Chang Errors 17: hitting 14 (Deep 7, Net 4, Wide 3); serving 3 (wide 2, deep 1)
Chang 24
Winners 12: Soft Drives 4, Clears 3, Drives 2, Drops 2, Aces 1
Xiong Errors 11: hitting 8 (wide 5, net 3), serving 3 (wide 2, deep 1)
Time: 12:30
SINGLES
1. Khoua Xiong (HP) beat Yer Chang 21-11, 21-13
2. Kari Finseth (C) beat Micha Everts 21-14, 14-21, 21-19
3. Elena Kronmiller (HP) beat Ka Yang 21-14, 21-8
4. Nhu Richards (HP) beat Dawn Vang 21-19, 21-19
DOUBLES
1. Melissa Vang/Nitsan Chang (C) beat Pa Kou Lor/Drew Thao 21-17, 21-8
2. Grace Moran/Alison Cole (HP) beat Elizabeth Yang/Bao Lee 21-15, 21-10
3. Mai Sia Yang/Phoua Xiong (C) beat Seng Lee/Pa Ying Moua 21-16, 21-17
BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Highland Park 3-1 .750
Games: Highland Park 7-2 .778
Points: Highland Park 180-140 .563
decided by 10+: Highland Park 2-0
decided by 3 or less: Highland Park 2-1
DOUBLES
matches: Central 2-1 .667
games: Central 4-2 .667
points: Central 109-100 .522
decided by 10+: 1-1
decided by 3: 0-0
Next up: tomorrow morning
