Out & About: Burnsville Triangular

#1 posting 4.24.2008
badminton news & information

BURNSVILLE TRIANGULAR
Today Burnsville hosted St. Paul Harding and Eden Prairie in a triangular. Harding finished 2-0, Eden Prairie split their contests, and Burnsville lost twice.

This also marked the third time I saw Harding this week (or fourth). The schedule works out like that some times.

MATCH 1:
ST. PAUL HARDING knights 7, BURNSVILLE blaze 0

Harding swept Burnsville 7-0 and the Knights did not lose a game. The closest contest came in the second game at first doubles as Mai Ngia Xiong and Mor Xiong went way beyond the 21 points in a 26-24 marathon win. They trailed when I first started watching 14-10.

FIRST SINGLES
At first singles Mee Xiong after spotting Ciera Hogenson a 2-0 lead had runs on her next four serves in a 21-6 win in game one. In game two it was more of the same as Xiong got into a rhythm. The drop worked for 7 Xiong points in game two.

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Xiong 4/7 -.571; Hogenson 2/9-.222
RUNS OF 3+:
Xiong 7, Hogenson 0
POINTS:
Xiong 43* by my count
Winners: 26: Drops 10, Drives 8, Clears 5, Smashes 1, aces 1, soft drives 1
Hogenson Errors 17: hitting 17 (Net 9, Wide 5, Fan 3)
Hogenson 10
Winners 4: Smashes 2, Drives 1, Clears 1
Xiong Errors 6: hitting 5 (Net 3, Wide 1, Deep 1), serving 1 (net 1)
Time: 10:24

SINGLES
1. Mee Xiong (H) beat Ciara Hogenson 21-6, 21-4
2. Stephanie King (H) beat Adrienne Sherman 21-11, 21-10
3. Crystal Yang (H) beat Claire Weiss 21-14, 21-18
4. Alana Yang (H) beat Bea Soderholm 21-11, 21-12
DOUBLES
1. Mai Ngia Xiong/Mor Xiong (H) beat Amy Linblad/Natalie Leiker 21-16, 26-24
2. Gao Thao/Pa Nyia Thao (H) beat Lisa Dennnis/Soogin Moon 21-7, 21-17
3. Chao Xiong/Boa Vang (H) beat Ashley Kolstad/Leah Kolstad 21-15, 21-7

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 4-0 1.000
Games: Harding 8-0 1.000
Points: Harding 168-86 .661
decided by 10+: Harding 5-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Harding 1-0
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 3-0 1.000
games: Harding 6-0 1.000
points: Harding 131-86 .604
decided by 10+: Harding 2-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Harding 1-0 1.000

MATCH 2:
ST. PAUL HARDING knights 5, EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 2

Harding beat Eden Prairie by taking all matches but the first singles and first doubles. This was a tighter contest than indicated. At third singles Crystal Yang edged out Zyue Chen in two, but it took an extra point in each game to secure the win. Second doubles also had a tight beginning for Gao Thao and Pa Nyia Thao at 21-19.
Eden Prairie took both firsts, but they were contested also. Katie Vohoutka slipped past Mee Xiong at singles with a 22-20 margin in the first game. EP's first doubles duo of Becca Wade and Larysa Eteneuer was the only match that went three games. The Eagles pair won the first game, fell in the second and took the third.

FIRST SINGLES
This was the most interesting of the three singles matches today. Xiong started off with a three point run. Vohnoutka answered right back with a run of three on her own. She added another three run after a Xiong side out to make it 6-4. Xiong took advantage of three errors to take an 11-9 lead. The smash game kicked in for Vohnoutka with three straight points off smashes to make it 15-13. Xiong tied it at 15 and the game was tied three more times, the last at 20. Vohnoutka was on the verge at 20-19, but a shot that sailed wide tied it up at 20. Vohnoutka ended the first game with two straight smashes.

The EP Senior used that momentum to launch game two with five straight points (again with three smashes). The Side out game was controlled by Vohnoutka .750 in this game. She also had two more runs. Xiong got close with a five point run to make it 12-10. Most were hitting errors on drop attempts or smash attempts by Vohnoutka. Xiong served deep and the momentum shifted back to Vohnoutka. She had an 8-3 run to finish.

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Vohnoutka 12/20 .600; Xiong 8/20-.400
RUNS OF 3+:
Vohnoutka 6, Xiong 3
POINTS:
Vohnoutka 43
Winners 27: Smashes 18, Clears 6, Drops 1, Soft Drives 1, Drives 1
Xiong Errors 16: hitting 14 (Net 6, Wide 3, Deep 3, Fans 2), serving 2 (Deep 2)
Xiong 33
Winners: 12: Drives 5, Smashes 2, Clears 2, Soft Drives 1, Aces 1, Drops 1
Vohnoutka Errors 21: hitting 21 (Net 11, Wide 5, Deep 3, Fan 2)
Time: 14:40

SINGLES
1. Katie Vohnoutka (EP) beat Mee Xiong 22-20, 21-13
2. Stephanie King (H) beat Nicky Wade 21-16, 21-8
3. Crystal Yang (H) beat Zyue Chen 22-20, 22-20
4. Alana Yang (H) beat Janet Stewart 21-12, 21-7
DOUBLES
1. Becca Wade/Larysa Eteneuer (EP) beat Mai Ngia Xiong/Mor Xiong (H) 21-7, 16-21, 21-15
2. Gao Thao/Pa Nyia Thao (H) beat Samantha Klemp/Heather Blake 21-19, 21-12
3. Chao Xiong/Boa Vang (H) beat Cailin Hawkins/Victoria Phoung 21-11, 21-15

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 3-1 .750
Games: Harding 6-2 .750
Points: Harding 161-126 .561
decided by 10+: Harding 2-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Harding 2-1 .667
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 2-1 .667
games: Harding 5-2 .714
points: Harding 127-115 .525
decided by 10+: Eden Prairie 1-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Harding 1-0 1.000

MATCH 3
EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 7, BURNSVILLE blaze 0

Eden Prairie swept host Burnsville in the final match 7-0. The tightest contests came at doubles with EP's 2nd doubles Samantha Klemp and Heather Blake dropping the first game before bouncing back and winning the next two; and Cailin Hawkins and Victoria Phoung pulling the same trick at third doubles. They needed to go extra points in game two to tie it up.

FIRST SINGLES
Vohnoutka broke free from a 7-5 game with a 12-0 run in game one. Once again the smash was working as the EP senior had 9 for the first game.

Vohnoutka controlled the side out game in game two. She did not have such a massive run in game two, and the smashes weren't as frequent, but the results were similar. Her biggest run was a six point margin taking her from an 11-7 lead to 17-7. The Smash did return for the final point.

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Vohnoutka 12/15-.800; Hogenson 6/15-.400
RUNS OF 3+:
Vohnoutka 5, Hogenson 1
POINTS:
Vohnoutka 42
Winners 22: Smashes 14, Drives 5, Clears 2, Soft Drives 1
Hogenson Errors 20: hitting 17 (Net 8, Wides 6, Deep 2, Fan 1), serving 3 (Deep 2, Net 1)
Hogenson 18
Winners: 5: Clears 2, Drops 2, Smashes 1
Vohnoutka Errors 13: hitting 12 (Deep 5, Net 4, Wide 3); Serving 1 (wide)
Time: 11:10

SINGLES
1. Katie Vohnoutka (EP) beat Ciara Hogenson 21-7, 21-11
2. Nicky Wade (EP) beat Adrienne Sherman 21-14, 21-19
3. Zyue Chen (EP) beat Claire Weiss 21-17, 21-14
4. Janet Stewart (EP) beat Bea Soderholm 21-13, 21-13
DOUBLES
1. Becca Wade/Larysa Eteneuer (EP) beat Amy Linblad/Natalie Leiker 21-14, 21-14
2. Samantha Klemp/Heather Blake (EP) beat Lisa Dennnis/Soogin Moon 18-21, 21-18, 21-14
3. Cailin Hawkins/Victoria Phoung (EP) beat Ashley Kolstad/Leah Kolstad 13-21, 23-21, 21-8

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Eden Prairie 4-0 1.000
Games: Eden Prairie 8-0 1.000
Points: Eden Prairie 168-108 .609
decided by 10+: Eden Prairie 1-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Eden Prairie 1-0 1.000
DOUBLES
matches: Eden Prairie 3-0 1.000
games: Eden Prairie 6-2 .750
points: Eden Prairie 159-131 .548
decided by 10+: Eden Prairie 1-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Eden Prairie 2-1 .667

Next up: tomorrow

Out & About: St. Paul Johnson/Eden Prairie

#1 posting 4.14.2008
badminton news & information

ST. PAUL JOHNSON governors 5
EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 2

In a non conference match in the suburbs it was the undefeated St. Paul Johnson Governors beating Eden Prairie. Johnson swept the season series with EP. The Govs won the first meeting in St. Paul 6-1. Johnson swept all three doubles, but two of the contests went the full three games. In the singles department Johnson won at second and third. Katie Vohountka at first singles and Alycia Willey at fourth pulled out wins for EP.

Both teams were not a full strength. For Johnson their first singles Pang Thao was gone and so Goly Yang moved up to first singles and Johnson broke up their first doubles team of Kia Thao and Shoua Vang. Thao moved to second singles and Vang was paired up with a new partner--Kou Nou Chang at third doubles. Eden Prairie's first doubles were not in action again. This time it was Becca Wade absent due to illness. Larysa Eteneuer was back from her trip.

FIRST SINGLES
Katie Vohnoutka kept her winning updated with a 21-10, 21-19 win over Goly Yang who had moved up to first singles. Game one Vohnoutka had a side out % of .778. Part of that was the fact that Yang started off with two service errors. The EP Eagle had a 11-4 lead. The game moved into a 8 point trade off. Vohnoutka broke the stalemate with two straight aces after getting the side out on a smash. Vohnoutka ended the night with a 7-2 run.

Game two was much more competitive with Yang adjusting to the size of Vohnoutka. Vohnoutka started off with the first two points. Yang matched her with the next two. Yang took the lead at 8-7 with two straight points. Both players were not in the side out mode. Both were able to squeeze at least one point off the serve. Yang pulled out in front 13-11 with three straight points. After two traded points, Vohnoutka picked up her first side out on Yang's 7th serve. That started a three point run and the EP senior was back in front 15-14. All in all Vohnoutka had a 7-2 run to pull out 19-16. Yang battled back to 20-19 after a clear. Vohnoutka won the contest after a Yang hit sailed deep.

photos: #1. Goly Yang reaches high for a shot. #2. Katie Vohnoutka comes up with a shot on a drop. photos by kja

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Vohnoutka 11/20-.550; Yang 7/20-.350
RUNS OF 3+:
Vohnoutka 6, Yang 1
POINTS:
Vohnoutka 42
Winners: 22: Smashes 9, Drops 5, Clears 4, Drives 2, Aces 2
Yang Errors 20: hitting 16 (Deep 6, Wide 5, Net 5); serving 4 (Short 2, Net 1, Deep 1)
Yang 29
Winners 20: Drives 6, Clears 6, Drops 5, Smashes 3
Vohnoutka Errors 9: hitting 8 (Net 3, Wide 3, Deep 1, Fan 1), serving 1 (short 1)
Time: 12 minutes

SINGLES
1. Katie Vohnoutka (EP) beat Goly Yang 21-10, 21-19
2. Kia Thao (J) beat Nicky Wade 21-12, 21-8
3. Belick Pha (J) beat Zyue Chen 22-24, 26-24, 21-9
4. Alycia Willey (EP) beat Olamade Fudahunsi 21-18, 21-17
DOUBLES
1. Ma Thao Xiong/Sheng Tha (J) beat Samantha Klemp/Heather Blake 21-23, 21-13, 21-17
2. Cha Lor/Hlee Vang (J) beat Morgan Woodrow/Laura Stone 21-13, 21-16
3. Shoua Vang/Kou Nou Chang (J) beat Cailin Hawkins/Victoria Phoung 21-15, 17-21, 21-18

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: 2-2 .500
Games: Eden Prairie 5-4 .556
Points: Johnson 175-161 .521
decided by 10+: Johnson 2-1 .667
decided by 3 or less: 2-2 .500
DOUBLES
matches: Johnson 3-0 1.000
games: Johnson 6-2 .750
points: Johnson 164-136 .544
decided by 10+: 0-0 .500
decided by 3-: 1-1 .500

Next up: tomorrow morning

Out & About: Eden Prairie/St. Paul Highland Park

#2 posting 4.9.2008
badminton news & information

EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 5,
ST. PAUL HIGHLAND PARK scots 2

In a non conference match up it was Eden Prairie beating Highland Park 5-2. Again it was a tight contest with four games going the distance, and the Eagles took all four. EP swept the singles and took first doubles in the win. At 2nd and 4th singles, and 1st doubles the Eagles trailed 1-0 before mounting their comeback. EP was missing Larysa Eteneuer at first doubles so their doubles teams were scrambled. Her partner Becca Wade played an exhibition. Samantha Klemp and Heather Blake moved into the first doubles slot and came up with a comeback win.

FIRST SINGLES
The first singles featured a couple of the better players in the state and both didn't disappoint. Eden Prairie's Katie Vohnoutka, with her strength and length, faced off against cagey and quick Highland Park's Khoua Xiong. As an indication of the quality of the contest today Winners out numbered hitting errors combined 58-49. Vohnoutka used her sonic smash for 14 points on her favorite winners. Xiong's favorite was the drive for 10.

Vohnoutka's smash made it's appearance on points 2 and 3 as she built a 3-0 lead. Vohnoutka lead 8-4 but a 7-3 run tied it up. There were three ties with the last coming at 15. Two smashes by Vohnoutka followed by two Xiong hitting errors put the EP senior up 19-15. The first game ended (if you didn't guess by now) on a Vohnoutka smash.

Xiong jumped out early with a 9-3 run. Xiong was able to score on all of her serves in this game but one. On her fifth serve she ran up six straight as she built up a 15-6 lead. She had an ace in that mix. Xiong was on the verge at 20-9 when Vohnoutka ran off four points on her last serve to make (what I had) 20-14. Drives and drops were featured in her comeback. Xiong won game two when Vohnoutka's serve sailed deep.

Game three was tight early. Nine straight side outs combined indicated the level of play. Xiong led 10-8 after two hitting errors. Vohnoutka tied it with two straight. The last time Xiong led was 13-11. Vohnoutka got a side out with a smash and then had three points off Xiong hitting errors. Xiong tied it at 15, but she served deep to put Vohnoutka at the advantage. That started a 4-0 run with a drop to put Vohnoutka up 19-15. Xiong was able bounce back with three straight. Vohnoutka ended the match with a drive.

However in each of the three games I had different scores compared to what was announced. I had Vohnoutka winning game one 20-17. Xiong winning game two 21-14 and Vohnoutka taking the final 20-18.

photos: #1 Katie Vohnoutka ready to smash. #2. Khoua Xiong with some overhand action of her own. photos by kja

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Vohnoutka 13/30-.433; Xiong 15/29 .517
SERVE RUNS:
Vohnoutka 4, Xiong 6
POINTS:
Vohnoutka 52
Winners: 34: Smashes 14, Drives 10, Drops 9, Clears 1
Xiong Errors 18: hitting 15 (Net 9, wide 6); serving 3 (wide 2, deep 1)
Xiong 55
Winners 24: Drives 10, Drops 7, Smashes 4, Clears 2, Aces 1
Vohnoutka Errors 31: hitting 28 (net 15, wide 10, deep 2, fan 1), serving 3 (deep 2, wide 1)
Time: 19 minutes

SINGLES
1. Katie Vohnoutka (EP) beat Khoua Xiong 21-17, 12-21, 21-18
2. Nicky Wade (EP) beat Micha Everts 15-21, 21-16, 21-18
3. Zyue Chen (EP) beat Mai Yia Moua 21-7, 21-13
4. Alycia Willey (EP) beat Nhu Richards 15-21, 21-18, 21-15
DOUBLES
1. Samantha Klemp/Heather Blake (EP) beat Pa Kou Lor/Drew Thao 19-21, 21-19, 21-14
2. Grace Moran/Alison Cole (HP) beat Morgan Woodrow/Laura Stone 21-17, 21-18
3. Seng Lee/Pa Ying Moua (HP) beat Cailin Hawkins/Victoria Phoung 21-10, 21-11

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Eden Prairie 4-0 1.000
Games: Eden Prairie 8-3 .727
Points: Eden Prairie 210-183 .534
decided by 10+: Eden Prairie 2-0
decided by 3 or less: Eden Prairie 3-0
DOUBLES
matches: Eden Prairie 1-2 .333
games: Eden Prairie 2-5 .286
points: Eden Prairie 117-138 .459
decided by 10+: Eden Prairie 1-2 .333
decided by 3: Eden Prairie 0-2 .000

Next up: tomorrow morning

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