Johnson Tops Harding

#1 posting 3.29.2008
badminton news & information

JOHNSON TOPS HARDING
St. Paul Johnson beat two time defending champ Harding 4-3 in the St. Paul conference on Thursday. It was the first time Harding has lost in St. Paul in two years.
In other action Highland Park beat Humboldt 5-2.

Everything shuts down for a week now.

next up: next week

Thursday Results

#1 posting 3.28.2008
badminton news & information

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS (+ MORE)
In Minneapolis South beat Edison 5-2 and Washburn edged Roosevelt 4-3. I am guessing that Southwest did not play Henry. There was a coaching change and the new SW coach had scheduled vacation during this time.
In St. Paul it was Central over Arlington 4-3. No word on the Harding vs Johnson or Highland Park vs Humboldt match ups.
St. Paul Johnson did beat Eden Prairie on Wednesday 6-1.

All schools will be off next week for their spring breaks and so there will be no matches.

next up: tomorrow?

2 Minneapolis Results

#1 posting 3.26.2008
Minnesota badminton news & information

Yesterday a few Minneapolis teams played
Henry beat Roosevelt 5-2 and
South beat North 6-1.
South is undefeated and same with Henry in the city conference.

I will resume my out & abouts again after Friday.

Next up: tomorrow

Out & About: Harding/Highland Park

#1 posting 3.25.2008
Minnesota badminton news & information

ST. PAUL HARDING knights 5,
ST. PAUL HIGHLAND PARK scots 2

Two time defending champ St. Paul Harding opened their season with a 5-2 win over host Highland Park. The Knights took the last three singles and the first two doubles to put together their win. Highland Park's Khoua Xiong took first singles in a tight three game match, while HP's third doubles also won a three game match. HP was 2-1 in three game matches overall.

I made it just in time as the two squads were being introduced. If you have been to HP then you know there isn't a lot of wiggle room for spectators. I was tucked into a crevice for the first game and then climbed the bleachers for a bird's eye view of the bird. Another interesting feature was the nets in play were full of holes and there was one occasion that the bird flew through the net. The players called that play right away.

FIRST SINGLES
This was the first singles match all year that went three games I watched. It was compelling as the rallies lasted a good long time. In another facet, I have different scores. It may be there were some do overs I didn't catch.

In game one Khoua took early 6-3 lead as she was able to get points off each of her first three serves. That lead moved to 10-4 and 11-5 after her 5th serve. Mee came back with four straight points on Khoua hitting errors. Khoua added three, but then Mee added three to make it 14-12 for Khoua. Khoua led right to the end, but then Mee closed with four straight and finished off game one with a clear for a 22-20 win.

In game two Mee had the early advantage at 5-1. Khoua took the lead at 10-6 after a 9-1 run. Khoua mixed up the shot selection to keep Mee guessing and running. Mee regained the lead at 13-12 after four straight points. Another 6-1 run put Khoua back in front 17-15 (player's score). Both traded side outs. Mee tied the game at 18. Khoua stopped Mee's serve with a clear, and then traded side outs. The game winner was a smash to even the series.

Mee ran off the first three points, but that lead was short lived. Khoua had a 12-2 run with a key point coming at 12. Khoua kept the bird in play with hustle all over the court. Mee was only able to get one point off her serve in the next five attempts. Khoua was able to get four points off her next four serves and that made the difference.

Khoua had a big edge in sideout % and winners with 11 more than Mee.

photos: #1 Khoua Xiong of Highland Park after a return. #2. Mee Xiong of Harding with a back hand. photos by kja

SIDEOUTS:
Khoua 16/29-.552; Mee 10/28-.357
SERVE RUNS:
Khoua 5 (twice); Mee 3 (four times)
POINTS:
Khoua 65
Winners: 28: Drives 11, Drops 8, Clears 7, Smashes 2
Mee Errors 37: hitting 35 (Net 21, Wide 8, Deep 5, Fan 1); serving 2 (wide 2)
Mee 51
Winners 17: Drops 7, Drives 6, Clears 2, Smashes 2
Khoa errors 34: hitting 29 (Net 21, Wide 6, Deep 1, Fan 1); Serving 5 (wide 3, net 2)
Time: 22 minutes.

SINGLES
1. Khoua Xiong (HP) beat Mee Xiong 20-22, 21-19, 21-10
2. Stephanie King (H) beat Micha Everts 21-10, 21-9
3. Kazoua Yang (H) beat Elena Kronmiller 21-16, 21-15
4. Gao Thao (H) beat Mai Yia Moua 21-15, 21-10
DOUBLES
1. Alana Yang/Mor Xiong (H) beat Grace Moran/Alison Cole 21-9, 21-18
2. Chao Xiong/Pa Nhia Vang (H) beat Pa Kou Lor/Drew Thao 21-19, 16-21, 21-11
3. Seng Lee/Pa Ying Moua (HP) beat Linda Yang/Bao Vang 21-19, 16-21, 21-11

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 3-1 .750
Games: Harding 7-2 .778
Points: Harding 177-137 .564
decided by 10+: Harding 3-1 .750
decided by 3 or less: 1-1
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 2-1 .667
games: Harding 5-3 .625
points: Harding 144-138 .511
decided by 10+: Harding 3-0 1.000
decided by 3: Harding 3-0 1.000

Next up: tomorrow

Out & About: Eden Prairie/Minneapolis Edison

#1 posting 3.24.2008
badminton news & information

EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 6, MINNEAPOLIS EDISON tommies 1

Eden Prairie beat Edison in a non conference match in Northeast Minneapolis. EP swept the doubles. Edison's Pa Nhia Xiong was able to take second singles in a three game match despite falling in the first game. EP moved their first JV doubles to 3rd doubles because the regular third doubles team had a member missing.

When I arrived EP was still on the bus trying to get into the building. I was their pathfinder showing them the side door entrance.

FIRST SINGLES
Eden Prairie's Katie Vohnoutka had a clear height advantage over Chu Mai Thao and the smash points indicate that. Thao had a 3-1 lead early in game one after three hitting errors. The game didn't break free for Vohnoutka until her 4th serve where she tacked on three points. Vohnoutka's side out game kept Thao off for four straight serves. Meanwhile Vohnoutka was able to squeeze points off serves 4-8. The EP senior had 8 smashes in game one including the game winner.
In game two Vohnoutka used her side out game to good effect again with seven straight stops for Thao. Vohnoutka shifted from smashes to drops in this game. She had five for points. Vohnoutka had 7 straight points on her serve to go up 16-4. In that sequence Vohnoutka had five winners. At the end of the match there were four straight drops--the first two by Thao, the last two for Vohnoutka. Thao did a better job with side outs in game two, and cut back on errors, but still Vohnoutka added to her margin.

SIDEOUTS: Vohnoutka 13/16 .813; Thao 6/17 .353
SERVE RUNS: Vohnoutka 7, Thao 2
POINTS:
Vohnoutka 42
Winners: 24: Smash 9, Drops 6, Drives 5, Clears 2
Thao Errors 19: hitting 17 (Net 9, wide 4, Drive 2, fan 2); serving 2 (short 1, wide 1)
Thao 19
Winners 6: Clears 3, Drops 2, Drives 1
Vohnoutka Errors 14: hitting 11 (net 6, wide 3, deep 2), serving 3 (wide 2, net 1)

Here is a photo of Edison's Pa Nhia Xiong getting to a drop shot with Alycia Willey in the third game at second singles.

Photos by kja

SINGLES
1. Katie Vohnoutka (EP) beat Chu Mai Thao 21-10, 21-9
2. Pa Nhia Xiong (ME) beat Alycia Willey 13-21, 21-18, 21-16
3. Nicky Wade (EP) beat Ly Vang 21-18, 21-14
4. Janet Stewart (EP) beat Candy Camora 21-5, 21-7
DOUBLES
1. Becca Wade/Larysa Eteneuer (EP) beat Karrie Le/Brenda Vue 21-5, 21-6
2. Morgan Woodrow/Laura Stone (EP) beat Yer Vue/Kia Vue 27-25, 21-19
3. Cailin Hawkins/Victoria Phoung (EP) beat Sara Vue/Ka Bao Xiong 21-8, 21-13

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Eden Prairie 3-1 .750
Games: Eden Prairie 7-2 .778
Points: Eden Prairie 181-118 .605
decided by 10+: Eden Prairie 4-0
decided by 3 or less: 1-1
DOUBLES
matches: Eden Prairie 3-0 1.000
games: Eden Prairie 6-0 1.000
points: Eden Prairie 132-76 .635
decided by 10+: Eden Prairie 3-0 1.000
decided by 3: Eden Prairie 2-0 1.000

Next up: tomorrow morning

Burnsville's Week

#1 posting 3.22.2008
badminton news & information

BURNSVILLE'S WEEK
The Savage Pacer has more on the Burnsville week with the opening loss to Como Park followed by the win over Arlington on Wednesday.

The Thisweek paper talks about the on-the-job training for this year's crop of players. Only three returning players have varsity experience.

Next up: tomorrow?

Two for Four, or is it Three

#1 posting 3.21.2008
badminton news & information

There were two reported scores yesterday:

In the Minneapolis conference Edison swept Roosevelt 7-0
The Southwest vs North game was postponed until a later time.
No word on the Henry at Washburn result.

In non conference action it was Eden Prairie over St. Paul Central 4-3.

Next up: later this weekend

Out & About: Postponed

#1 posting 3.20.2008
badminton news & information

Today I went to Minneapolis North expecting to see Minneapolis Southwest vs North, but there was no Southwest. Apparently the new SW coach is on vacation and will be rescheduling.

Henry beat North on Tuesday (which hasn't been published) 5-2

Also on Tuesday Eden Prairie beat St. Paul Arlington 4-3

more tomorrow

Out & About: Burnsville/St. Paul Arlington

#2 posting 3.19.2008
badminton news & information

BURNSVILLE blaze 5
ST. PAUL ARLINGTON phoenix 2

Burnsville swept the doubles and took two singles matches in a 5-2 non conference win over St. Paul Arlington. The win that put the Blaze over the top came at third doubles, with second doubles coming in later. The doubles contests were tight, but Burnsville pulled away in games three with margins greater than 10 in second and third doubles.

FIRST SINGLES
This contest went back and forth but Novia Josiah prevailed over Ciara Hogenson in two tight sets 21-18, 21-16. Hogenson led in game one 9-7 after three straight points. Josiah tied it at 10. Hogenson got the side out with a smash for point 11 and added a Josiah hitting error for point 12. Hogenson last lead came at 14-12. Josiah ran off three straight to take the lead with a clear/drop/clear sequence. Hogenson tied it on a Josiah hitting error. The game was tied at 17 when Josiah broke away with a drive to the right sideline followed by two Hogenson hitting errors into the net. Josiah fanned on game point, but got it on another Hogenson hitting error into the net.

Game two had a few more runs. Hogenson led 6-3 with four straight points, 3 on Josiah errors. The second game had more service errors with three total. Hogenson kept the lead until at 9-8 Josiah ran off four straight points, all Hogenson hitting errors. Hogenson tied it at 14 on three straight drives. Josiah finished the game off with a 7-2 run as she was able to squeeze points off her serve while getting the side out on Hogenson's serve.

Yesterday the two set match lasted about 8 minutes. today that was the length of the first game. Overall the match lasted a healthy 17:28.

SIDEOUTS: Josiah 18/24-.750; Hogenson 12/25-.480
SERVE RUNS: Josiah 3, Hogenson 3
POINTS:
Josiah 42
Winners: 25: Drives 13, Clears 6, Drops 3, Smashes 2, Ace 1
Hogenson Errors 17: hitting 16 (Net 12, fan 2, wide 2); serving 1 (wide 1)
Hogenson 34
Winners 21: Drives 11, Smashes 7, Drops 2, Clears 1
Josiah Errors 13: hitting 10 (wide 6, net 2, fan 2), serving 3 (wide 2, net 1)
Time: 17:28

After that match I watched the third game of second doubles. At that point the match it was tied up and Burnsville needed one more win for the victory. The Blaze pair of Lisa Dennis and Soogin Moon established control early on with three straight points thanks to Arlington errors. The lead mushroomed from 3-1 to 14-4 after five Burnsville services. The last was a six point service run with five coming on Arlington errors (three of which were fans). The two split after that 5-5. I only had 19 points at the end for Burnsville.
The same problem as last year--not saying the score loud enough or not being aware of the score is still around.

SINGLES
1. Novia Josiah (A) beat Ciara Hogenson 21-18, 21-16
2. Adrienne Sherman (B) beat Pahoua Yang 21-16, 21-11
3. Claire Weiss (B) beat Kazoua Yang 21-8, 21-15
4. Lee Yang (A) beat Bea Soderholm 21-15, 13-21, 22-20
DOUBLES
1. Amy Lindblad/Natalie Leiker (B) beat Cha Her/Kia Her 21-18, 21-19
2. Lisa Dennis/Soogin Moon (B) beat Nancy Vang/Zee Lue Xiong 23-25, 21-17, 21-9
3. Leah Kolstad/Ashley Kolstad (B) beat Wendy Moua/Hayat Ahmed 20-22, 21-12, 21-8

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: 2-2
Games: Burnsville 5-4 .556
Points: Burnsville 174-148 .540
decided by 10+: Burnsville 2-0 1.000
decided by 3 or less: St. Paul Arlington 2-0 1.000
DOUBLES
matches: Burnsville 3-0 1.000
games: Burnsville 6-2 .750
points: Burnsville 169-130 .565
decided by 10+: Burnsville 2-0 1.000
decided by 3: 2-2

Next up: Tomorrow morning

Monday Minneapolis Results

#1 posting 3.19.2008
badminton news & information

MINNEAPOLIS RESULTS
I reported on the South sweep over Roosevelt last night.
Also sweeping---Edison over Washburn.

no word on the Henry vs North contest

The known city standings are like this:
team, match record, games record
South 2-0 14-0
Edison 2-0 11-3
Southwest 1-0 5-2
North 0-1 3-4
Roosevelt 0-2 2-12
Washburn 0-2 0-14
Henry 0-0

Next up: Later today with an out & about

Out & About: South/Roosevelt

#2 posting 3.18.2008
badminton news & information

MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH tigers 7
MINNEAPOLIS ROOSEVELT teddies 0

South swept the host Teddies 7-0 for their second straight Minneapolis conference sweep. South has added Desirae Garcia to their line up. Last year she played 4th singles at St. Paul Johnson. The whole match didn't last that long as Roosevelt has 8 courts and the varsity begins with seven of them. Roosevelt has a new coach in Rodney Lossow. He was a softball coach last year.

FIRST SINGLES
Desirae Garcia served six times total in the the two game match. She had a run of 14 in the first game and two serve runs of 11 and 9. Garcia made use of 11 hitting errors by Tania Rojas in game one. Rojas led 2-1 early before the 14 straight points.
In game two Garcia had 13 winners for the win. The total match took 8:34.

SIDEOUTS: Garcia 3/4 .750; Rojas 1/6 .167
SERVE RUNS: Garcia 14, Rojas 1
POINTS:
Garcia 42
Winners: 24: Aces 2, Clears 2, Drives 8, Drops 5, Smashes 4
Rojas Errors 18: hitting 18 (Wide 12, Fan 4, Wide 2); serving 1 (net 1)
Rojas 5
Winners 0
Garcia Errors 5: hitting 4 (deep 2, wide 2), serving 1 (wide 1)

SECOND SINGLES
Next I followed the action on second singles with the second game of that series. That game head some drama with CeCe Duerney rallying to win game two 21-18. Passang Chozom of Roosevelt lost the first game 21-5. Chozom came out with a 4-1 lead with three drops for winners. Duerney tied the game up at 7 with three straight Chozom hitting errors. Chozom regained the momentum with 7 straight points with four via Duerney hitting errors. I had Chozom up 17-10 when Duerney ran off six straight points, five of which were winners. Duerney closed out the match with a 5-1 run. Chozom had three service errors in game two.

SINGLES
1. Desirae Garcia (S) beat Tania Rojas 21-4, 21-1
2. CeCe Duerney (S) beat Passang Chozom 21-5, 21-18
3. Brett Smith (S) beat Marisol Rojas 21-14, 21-16
4. Jessica Jolson (S) beat Padao Yang 21-4, 21-1
DOUBLES
1. Jackie Heslop/Karen Perault-Bouthton (S) beat Maria Alivilar/Cindy Lee 21-10, 21-8
2. Melissa Ng/Jane Olmstead-Rumsey (S) beat Murong Cha/Jenny Vang 21-15, 21-7
3. Rachel Mammen/Katherine McQuarter (S) beat Che Thao/Mai Yang Vang 21-7, 24-22

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: South 4-0 1.000
Games: South 8-0 1.000
Points: South 168-63 .727
decided by 10+: South 5-0 1.000
decided by 3 or less: South 1-0 1.000
DOUBLES
matches: South 3-0 1.000
games: South 6-0 1.000
points: South 129-69 .651
decided by 10+: South 4-0 1.000
decided by 3: South 1-0 1.000

Como Park Beats Burnsville

#1 posting 3.18.2008
badminton news & information

MONDAY RESULTS
St. Paul Como Park beat Burnsville 5-2.

That gives St. Paul a 2-0 record yesterday. St. Paul Humboldt beat Mpls Henry 4-3 (check out the out & about).

next up: Later today with another out & about

Out & About: St. Paul Humboldt/Mpls Henry

#1 posting 3.17.2008
badminton news & information

ST. PAUL HUMBOLDT hawks 4
MINNEAPOLIS HENRY patriots 3

In the opening match for each team it was 651 over 612 with Humboldt taking the top two singles and doubles for the win. Each and every winner finished 2-0. The odd fact was Henry outpointed Humboldt in the singles, but only managed two wins at that level.

It took a while to get back into rhthym. I started out with just one pen, but soon realized the error of my ways and had the trusty red pen out before the end of the first round. Also the terminology or phrases were slow to return. By the second game in the first doubles I was doing better. On top of that I was using a camera for some action shots. It is hard to do all of the action. You won't see photos tonight. I need to get the photos off the clip and apparently need an external hard drive to load all the photos off my main computer.

FIRST SINGLES
Shoua Moua of Humboldt took the first singles 21-12, 21-14. She broke free in the first game with a six straight points to put her in the lead 15-8. Moua sided out in the first game .778. Since my system was flawed I don't have great numbers.
In the second game Henry's Yer Yang, moving up from last year's first doubles, led 4-2. Moua took control with a 6-1 run to go up 11-6. She never trailed after that. Moua in game two was given 12 hitting errors for points, while only giving up 4. The side out game wasn't as strong this time for Moua with a .429 percentage.

Side out %: Moua, Humboldt 10/16-.625; Yang, Henry 5/17-.294

Photo: Shoua Moua of Humboldt with her eye on the bird. photo by kja.

FOURTH SINGLES
Choua Pha of Henry topped Sha Thao 21-10, 21-6. In the first game Pha started off with three straight points, all on drives. Pha got the sideout five straight times on Thao's serve. Hitting errors provided 11 of Pha's points.
In game two Pha continued her same success with the first four sideouts against Thao. By that time it was 14-4 for Pha. Pha only received 8 points on hitting errors in this contest. Pha used drops for five points. Pha concluded the match with six straight points, the second time that game she had six straight.

Side Outs: Pha, Henry 11/13-.846; Thao, Humboldt 4/15-.267
Serve runs: Pha 6
Points:
Pha 42. Winners: 22 (Ace 3, Drives 7, Drops 7, Smashes 4); Thao errors 19 (I only had 20 for the final game.
Thao 15. Winners 4, Pha errors 12

SINGLES
1. Shoua Moua (SPH) def. Yer Yang 21-12, 21-14
2. Shide Vang (SPH) def. Mena Vue 21-7, 21-12
3. Nhia Yang (MH) def. Jeanette Riopel 21-11, 21-10
4. Choua Pha (MH) def. Sha Thao 21-10, 21-6
DOUBLES
1. Mia Chour/Non Yang (SPH) def. Neng Vang/Ka Bao Yang 21-11, 21-6
2. Pha Yang/Mai Der (SPH) def. Nhia Xiong/Mai See Thao 21-7, 21-18
3. Sheng Xiong/Lakresha Williams (MH) def. Miranda Ketchum/Kao Shoua Thao 21-15, 21-12

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Humboldt 2-2 .500
Games: Humboldt 4-4 .500
Points: Humboldt 121-129 .484
decided by 10+: Humboldt 1-4 .200
decided by 3 or less: none
DOUBLES
matches: Humboldt 2-1 .667
games: Humboldt 4-2 .667
points: Humboldt 111-84 .569
decided by 10+: Humboldt 3-0 1.000
decided by 3: Humboldt 1-0 1.000

Next up: tomorrow

Minneapolis Opens Conference Play

#1 posting 3.14.2008
girls badminton news & information

FIRST RESULTS
I will be getting out after the state basketball tournaments.
Yesterday the first matches of the season took place in Minneapolis.

South shutout Washburn 7-0

Southwest beat Roosevelt 5-2

Edison edged North 4-3

Next week I will be able to get to some matches. Until then, if you have results go to my profile and email me.

next up; When news/results strike

Edison Schedule

#1 posting 3/5/2008
badminton news & information

EDISON SCHEDULE
Here is the Minneapolis Edison badminton schedule. They open the season on Thursday March 14 when they host North.
Non conference match ups include Eden Prairie and St. Paul Humboldt, plus a triangular with St. Paul Harding and Burnsville.

Next up: tomorrow

Suburban Schedules

#1 posting 3.4.2008
Minnesota badminton news & information

SUBURBAN SCHEDULES
Burnsville and Eden Prairie remain the only two suburban programs that have badminton squads.

The first match takes place on Monday, March 17 when Burnsville heads to Como Park. EP's first match is the next day at St. Paul Arlington.

next up: tomorrow

Practice Opens

#1 posting 3.3.2008
Minnesota Badminton News & Information

PRACTICE OPENS
Today is the first day of badminton practice.

The first matches take place on March 25 in St. Paul. Defending champ Harding will be at Highland Park.

Here is the St. Paul Conference schedule.

Next up tomorrow