State Tournament: Harding Three-Peat

#2 posting 5.14.2008
badminton news & information

MINNESOTA STATE TEAM TITLE
HARDING THREE-PEATS

#1 seed St. Paul Harding won their third straight team title with a 5-2 win over Eden Prairie. It was the second straight year the two teams met in the finals. Last year Harding won 6-1.
Harding made it to the finals with a 6-1 win over St. Paul Central. #3 seed Eden Prairie beat #2 St. Paul Johnson in the other semifinal 4-3.
In the third place contest Johnson beat Central 5-2.

CHAMPIONSHIP
HARDING knights 5, EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 2

Eden Prairie won both first singles and doubles, and Harding took the rest in putting together their third straight title. The only match that lasted three games came at third singles with Crystal Yang winning the last two games. By that time it was already known that Harding had won the title.
In games decided by three or less Harding had the edge with two wins in doubles and one in singles.

Photo: back to back to back 2008 state champs Harding. Runner up Eden Prairie. photos by kja

FIRST SINGLES
Katie Vohnoutka did not allow any runs in a two game set with Mee Xiong while using five for the cause. In game one Vohnoutka had two runs combined for a 7-1 advantage as she built an 8-3 lead. Xiong did battle back to 11-9. But Xiong's strategy of putting the bird on the back line also put the bird out. Xiong had a combined 9 hitting errors that were deep in the two games. Vohnoutka used another of her runs to go up 14-9. Xiong cut it back to 18-15, but she never could get traction on runs. At most two points, never three. Game one ended with a deep hitting error for a 21-16 score for Vohnoutka.
Game two had similarities with the first. Vohnoutka opened 2-0 and had had her first of two runs in game two to go up 6-2. Xiong closed to 11-8, but Vohnoutka had too much power, too much length to be sidetracked. Vohnoutka added three points to go up 16-9. The side out game took over late and Vohnoutka rode that to a 21-14 victory.

photos: #1 Vohnoutka reaching for a drop. #2 Xiong with a back hand. photos by kja

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Katie Vohnoutka 12/21-.571; Mee Xiong 12/23 .522
RUNS OF 3+:
Katie Vohnoutka 5 Goly Yang 0
POINTS:
Katie Vohnoutka 42
Winners 20: Smashes 10, Drops 3, Soft Drives 3, Clears 2 Drives 2
Mee Xiong Errors 22: hitting 21 (Deep 9, Net 7, wide 4, Fan 1), Serving 1 (wide 1)
Mee Xiong 30
Winners: 13: Soft Drives 3, Drives 3, Drops 3, Clears 3, Smashes 1
Katie Vohnoutka Errors 17: hitting 16 (Net 10, Wide 5, Deep 1); Serving 1 (wide 1)
Time: 14:08

SINGLES
1. Katie Vohnoutka (EP) beat Mee Xiong 21-16, 21-14
2. Stephanie King (H) beat Nicky Wade 21-8, 21-13
3. Crystal Yang (H) beat Zyue Chen 16-21, 21-13, 21-18
4. Alana Yang (H) beat Janet Stewart 21-10, 21-14
DOUBLES
1. Becca Wade/Larysa Eteneuer (EP) beat Pa Nyia Thao/Mai Ngia Xiong 21-14, 21-17
2. Gao Thao/Kazoua Yang (H) beat Samantha Klemp/Heather Blake 21-12, 21-18
3. Chao Xiong/Pa Nhia Vang (H) beat Morgan Woodrow/Laura Stone 21-19, 21-13

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 3-1 .750
Games: Harding 6-3 .667
Points: Harding 172-139 .553
decided by 10+: Harding 2-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Harding 1-0 1.000
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 2-1 .667
games: Harding 4-2 .667
points: Harding 115-104 .525
decided by 10+: none
decided by 3-: Harding 2-0

THIRD PLACE
JOHNSON governors 5, CENTRAL minutemen 2

Just like the championship game, Central won at first singles and doubles, and Johnson took the rest to claim third place. However this match was closer as evidenced by the number of three game matches. Three of the singles went the distance with one doubles lasting three. At second singles Belick Pha outlasted Kari Finseth after falling in the first game 21-10. Pha edged Finseth by two in the second game and three in the final.

photos: 3rd place Johnson, 4th place Central. photos by kja

SINGLES
1. Yer Chang (C) beat Goly Yang 21-17, 12-21, 21-15
2. Belick Pha (J) beat Kari Finseth 10-21, 21-19, 21-18
3. Olamade Fudahunsi (J) beat Dawn Vang 21-12, 21-9
4. Pang Thao (J) beat Ka Yang 21-12, 11-21, 21-13
DOUBLES
1. Doua Thao/Da Chang (C) beat Kia Thao/Kou Nou Chang 21-13, 21-19
2. Sheng Thao/Pau Chu (J) beat Malinda Xiong/Mai See Xiong 21-16, 18-21, 21-16
3. Hlee Vang/Cha Lor (J) beat Phoua Xiong/Mai Sia Yang 21-15, 21-11

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Johnson 3-1 .750
Games: Johnson 7-4 .636
Points: Johnson 200-179 .528
decided by 10+: Central 2-1 .667
decided by 3-: Johnson 2-0 1.000
DOUBLES
matches: Johnson 2-1 .667
games: Johnson 4-3 .571
points: Johnson 134-121 .525
decided by 10+: Johnson 1-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Central 2-0 1.000

SEMIFINALS
HARDING knights 6, CENTRAL minutemen 1

Harding started their day with a 6-1 win over Central. The Knights swept the singles and added the 2nd and 3rd doubles to put together the win. Two matches lasted three games and in both circumstances Harding prevailed. The Knights won in three at 4th singles and 3rd doubles. Alana Yang had a comeback win after falling in the first game.

SINGLES
1. Mee Xiong (H) beat Yer Chang 21-12, 21-8
2. Stephanie King (H) beat Kari Finseth 21-7, 21-11
3. Crystal Yang (H) beat Dawn Vang 23-21, 21-16
4. Alana Yang (H) beat Ka Yang 19-21, 21-9, 21-13
DOUBLES
1. Doua Thao/Da Chang (C) beat Pa Nyia Thao/Mai Ngia Xiong 21-16, 21-14
2. Gao Thao/Kazoua Yang (H) beat Malinda Xiong/Mai See Xiong 21-16, 21-13
3. Chao Xiong/Pa Nhia Vang (H) beat Phoua Xiong/Mai Sia Yang 21-12, 18-21, 21-17

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 4-0 1.000
Games: Harding 8-1 .889
Points: Harding 189-118 .616
decided by 10+: Harding 4-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Harding 1-1 .500
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 2-1 .667
games: Harding 4-3 .571
points: Harding 132-121 .522
decided by 10+: none
decided by 3-: Central 1-0 1.000

SEMIFINALS
EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 4, JOHNSON governors 3

This was the tightest of the three games and it was an upset considering Johnson was the #2 seed going in and had beat EP 5-2 earlier in the year at EP. The difference this time was EP picked up one win in the singles and one in the doubles. It should be noted that Wade and Eteneuer didn't play in the first event.
Nicky Wade and Zyue Chen each picked up wins the second time around in singles. The key event came at third singles with Zyue Chen edging Olamade Fudahunsi 24-22 in the second game. In the first time the two teams played Fudahunsi played at fourth singles. Belick Pha won the first time at third singles and this time moved to second and lost.

FIRST SINGLES
Katie Vohnoutka used a strong side out game to stymie Goly Yang in straight sets. The first contest had 12 serves for each player. The second game saw that number cut in half. Vohnoutka sided out at 82.4%. On top of that she had a 5-0 advantage in runs of 3 or more.
It was a tight first game until Vohnoutka used a pair of smashes in a six point run to go up 18-11. Vohnoutka sided out the last three times to get the game one win.
In game two Vohnoutka opened 5-0. Stretching back to the first game Vohnoutka kept her side out streak alive with 8 straight. Yang never got on track and the game was over in less than five minutes.

photo: The bird hovers above the net as both players ponder their next move. photo by kja

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Katie Vohnoutka 14/17-.824; Goly Yang 8/18 .444
RUNS OF 3+:
Katie Vohnoutka 5 Goly Yang 0
POINTS:
Katie Vohnoutka 42
Winners 28: Smashes 14, Clears 5, Drops 5, Drives 3, Soft drive 1
Goly Yang Errors 14: hitting 14 (Net 8, Wide 6)
Goly Yang 20
Winners: 11: Soft Drives 4, Smashes 3, Drops 2, Clears 1, Drives 1
Katie Vohnoutka Errors 9: hitting 7 (Net 4, Wide 3); Serving 2 (wide 1, net 1)
Time: 11:41

SINGLES
1. Katie Vohnoutka (EP) beat Goly Yang 21-14, 21-6
2. Nicky Wade (EP) beat Belick Pha 21-5, 21-14
3. Zyue Chen (EP) beat Olamade Fudahunsi 21-18, 24-22
4. Pang Thao (J) beat Janet Stewart 21-10, 21-17
DOUBLES
1. Becca Wade/Larysa Eteneuer (EP) beat Kia Thao/Kou Nou Chang 21-16, 21-17
2. Sheng Thao/Pau Chu (J) beat Samantha Klemp/Heather Blake 21-15, 19-21, 21-19
3. Hlee Vang/Cha Lor (J) beat Morgan Woodrow/Laura Stone 21-15, 21-15

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Eden Prairie 3-1 .750
Games: Eden Prairie 6-2 .750
Points: Eden Prairie 156-106 .595
decided by 10+: Eden Prairie 2-1 .667
decided by 3-: Eden Prairie 2-0 1.000
DOUBLES
matches: Johnson 2-1 .667
games: Johnson 4-3 .571
points: Johnson 136-127 .517
decided by 10+: none
decided by 3-: Johnson 1-1 .500

The individual state tournament starts tomorrow at 3:15 at St. Paul Harding. Favored in the singles is Katie Vohnoutka who has not lost this season.

next up: tomorrow after the first round of Individual State.

Out & About: Harding Triangular

#1 posting 5.5.2008
badminton news & information

HARDING TRIANGULAR
Today the St. Paul Co Champ St. Paul Harding hosted Burnsville and the Minneapolis Co Champ Edison in a triangular. There were some line up maneuverings for Harding in the first match up with Burnsville, but the Knights were at full strength vs their west river rivals. Harding edged Burnsville 4-3, and then swept Edison 7-0.

ST. PAUL HARDING knights 4, BURNSVILLE blaze 3

Harding and Burnsville both had line up changes. Harding moved Stephanie King and Alana Yang up and added Mai Chua Vang and Tiffany Yang at the 3rd and 4th singles. Both usually are on the JV. Burnsville also had new 3rd and 4th singles. Due to a science event next week the 2nd and 3rd singles for the Blaze are done for the year. Also Third doubles for the Blaze changed with Laura Farhart and Molly Jones taking over. Two of the three new Blaze combinations won their events. The tightest match took place at 3rd doubles with Harding prevailing by six points.

FIRST SINGLES
Stephanie King didn't miss a beat moving up from second singles to first with a 21-13, 21-6 win. Ciara Hogenson started off in the lead with two straight points. But the tale of this contest was in the side out %. King in both games checked in with a .800 %. King had a five point run to go up 15-10. Hogenson did close to 17-13. King got the side out and then finished up with three more points with an exclamation point smash to finish.

Hogenson did not score on any serve in game two. King had 8 straight points to go up 10-2 with two aces in the mix. The game was over fairly quickly with King getting two more runs.

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
King 12/15 .800; Hogenson 5/16-.313
RUNS OF 3+:
King 6, Hogenson 1
POINTS:
King 42
Winners 22: Soft Drives 7, Aces 4, Smashes 4, Drives 2, Clears 2, Drops 2
Hogenson Errors 20: hitting 17 (Net 10, Wide 6, Fan 1), serving 3 (Net 2, Deep 1)
Hogenson 19
Winners: 8: Soft Drives 2, Drives 2, Drops 2, Aces 1, Clears 1
King Errors 11: hitting 10 (Wide 5, Net 4, Deep 1); Serving 1 (net)
Time: 11:55

SINGLES
1. Stephanie King (H) beat Ciara Hogenson 21-13, 21-6
2. Alana Yang (H) beat Bea Soderholm 21-11, 21-14
3. Emily Zhang (B) beat Mai Chua Vang 21-13, 21-12
4. Crystal Collins (B) beat Tiffany Yang 21-9, 21-15
DOUBLES
1. Mai Ngia Xiong/Mor Xiong (H) beat Amy Linblad/Natalie Leiker 21-8, 21-13
2. Lisa Dennnis/Soogin Moon (B) beat Chao Xiong/Chao Xiong/Pa Nhia Vang 23-21, 22-20
3. Gao Thao/Pa Nyia Thao (H) beat Laura Farhart/Molly Jones 21-19, 21-17

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 2-2 .500
Games: Harding 4-4 .500
Points: Harding 133-128 .510
decided by 10+: Harding 2-1 .667
decided by 3-: 0-0
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 2-1 .667
games: Harding 4-2 .667
points: Harding 125-102 .551
decided by 10+: Harding 1-0
decided by 3-: Burnsville 2-1 .667

BURNSVILLE blaze 5, MINNEAPOLIS EDISON tommies 2

Edison took the first two singles spots, but Burnsville took the rest in a 5-2 win. The Edison wins were narrow ones at that. Three of the four games were decided by two points. Emily Zhang and Crystal Collins took their second wins of the day. Zhang needed three games and rallied from 1-0 down. Collins held Candy Camora to single digits both games. Burnsville swept the doubles with only the first game at first doubles going long at 26-24.

FIRST SINGLES
Mai Chu Thao edged Ciara Hogenson in a pair of down to the wire games. Thao had the early advantage at 5-3. Hogenson battled back to go up 9-7 with a five point run. Thao had her own three point run to reclaim the lead including a handcuff drive. The problem was Hogenson couldn't get the side out when Thao serve. Thao gained at least one point on her serve 8 straight times. Thao led 19-16 and then the game shifted to side out mode. Both players traded fans for side outs. Thao took game one 21-18.

Hogenson took the early lead in game one with a run of three. Thao tied it up at six. Hogenson pushed out to 10-6 with a pair of drives on a four point run. Thao closed to 12-11, but Hogenson answered with another three point run to lead 15-11. Thao had a five point run, her first extended run in this game to take a 17-16 lead. Hogenson had the +1 advantage four times, the last coming at 21-20. Thao was able to get three straight side outs to hold off defeat. She tied it at 21 on a smash. She then held her serve and finished the game off with a soft drive 23-21.

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS: Thao 16/24-.667; Hogenson 11/25 -.440
RUNS OF 3+: Thao 4, Hogenson 4
POINTS:
Thao 44
Winners 22: Clears 9, Smashes 6, Soft Drives 3, Drives 2, Aces 2
Hogenson Errors 22: hitting 20 (Net 13, Fan 3, wide 3, Deep 1), serving 2 (Deep 1, Wide 1)
Hogenson 39
Winners: 12: Soft Drives 4, Drives 3, Aces 2, Clears 2, Smashes 1
Thao Errors 27: hitting 22 (Net 9, Deep 7, Fan 3, Wide 3); Serving 5 (Deep 3, Wide 1, Net 1)
Time: 16:04

SINGLES
1. Mai Chu Thao (E) beat Ciara Hogenson 21-19, 23-21
2. Pa Nha Xiong (E) beat Bea Soderholm 22-20, 21-16
3. Emily Zhang (B) beat Ly Vang 18-21, 21-17, 21-13
4. Crystal Collins (B) beat Candy Camora 21-9, 21-7
DOUBLES
1. Amy Linblad/Natalie Leiker (B) beat Xia Xiong/Ka Bao Xiong 26-24, 21-14
2. Lisa Dennnis/Soogin Moon (B) beat Kia Vue/Karrie Le 21-9, 21-5
3. Laura Farhart/Molly Jones (B) beat Yer Vue/Brenda Vue 21-15, 21-10

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Burnsville 2-2 .500
Games: Edison 5-4 .556
Points: Burnsville 178-154 .536
decided by 10+: Burnsville 2-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Edison 4-0 1.000
DOUBLES
matches: Burnsville 3-0 1.000
games: Burnsville 6-0 1.000
points: Burnsville 131-77 .629
decided by 10+: Burnsville 3-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Burnsville 1-0 1.000

ST. PAUL HARDING knights 7, MINNEAPOLIS EDISON tommies 0

Harding swept Edison 7-0 and also swept them 14-10. The closest Edison came to getting a game was the second game at third singles when Ly Vang fell short 21-19. Six of the games Edison didn't get out of single digits.

FIRST SINGLES
Mee Xiong returned to the line up and didn't miss a beat as she limited her errors to only 8 in a 21-7, 21-11 win over Mai Chu Thao. It was Thao's second loss this year.

In game one Xiong jumped off with 8 straight points as five Thao errors helped her cause. The lead soon ballooned to 14-1 and 19-3. A three point run by Thao made little impact as Xiong finished with 5/6 side outs in a 21-7 win.

Xiong trailed 2-1 before reeling off eight straight points to lead 9-2. Six Thao errors propelled Xiong at that stage. Xiong had another long run of 7 later in the game to go up 20-7. Thao held off Xiong for four points before Xiong ended it all on a smash.

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS: Xiong 8/12-.667; Thao 5/11-.455
RUNS OF 3+: Xiong 6, Thao 2
POINTS:
Xiong 42
Winners: 17: Soft Drives 5, Smashes 4, Drives 3, Drops 2, Clears 2, Aces 1
Thao Errors 25: hitting 22 (Net 14, Wide 5, Fans 3); Serving 3 (Deep 2, Net 1)
Thao 18
Winners 10: Soft Drives 4, Clears 3, Drives 1, Drops 1, Aces 1
Xiong Errors 8: hitting 4 (Wide 2, Fan 1, Net 1), serving 4 (Deep 3, Wide 1)
Time: 10:03

SINGLES
1. Mee Xiong (H) beat Mai Chu Thao 21-7, 21-11
2. Stephanie King (H) beat Pa Nha Xiong 21-8, 21-9
3. Crystal Yang (H) beat Ly Vang 21-10, 21-19
4. Alana Yang (H) beat Candy Camora 21-6, 21-17
DOUBLES
1. Mai Ngia Xiong/Mor Xiong (H) beat Xia Xiong/Ka Bao Xiong 21-18, 21-6
2. Gao Thao/Pa Nyia Thao (H) beat Kia Vue/Karrie Le 21-10, 21-17
3. Chao Xiong/Boa Vang (H) beat Yer Vue/Brenda Vue 21-9, 21-7

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 4-0 1.000
Games: Harding 8-0 1.000
Points: Harding 168-87 .659
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 126-67 .653
decided by 10+: Harding 4-0
decided by 3-: Harding 1-0

Next up: Tomorrow

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 Harding/St. Paul Johnson

#1 posting 4.23.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

ST. PAUL HARDING knights 4,
ST. PAUL JOHNSON governors 3

The Harding Knights turned the tables on Johnson 4-3 in a revenge match between the two east side rivals. Harding split the singles and took two of the three doubles reversing the first meeting of the year between the two. Only one match went three games and that was won by Johnson at second singles as Goly Yang bounced back to take game three after winning game one. There were a couple of matches at doubles that went to extra points (or point). Both of those extra point games were in the second game and both at the first two doubles. Each team won a match in that manner.

FIRST SINGLES
I arrived with the score 10-4 for Mee Xiong of Harding. Pang Thao was slotted in first singles for the first time when I was watching. Her mobility appeared to be an issue as Xiong had five drops with Thao conceding those shots in the first six points I saw from Xiong. Xiong had runs of four twice and also had 3/4 side outs in the abbreviated first game stats.

Both players had six straight side outs to start the game. Two of the first points for Harding came on Thao serving errors. Xiong broke open the game with five straight points to take an 8-3 lead. Thao came back with a four point run including the side out to make it 10-9. The problem was Thao only was able to get the side out half the time in game two. Xiong used the drop to start another three point run. Thao had one more run of her own to cut it to 16-13. The Drop again stopped Thao and Xiong didn't give the bird back with six straight points to finish the contest. When I saw the game Xiong had 7 drops for winning points.

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
keep in mind this is when I saw the action, not the entire match.
SIDEOUTS:
Xiong 8/11-.727; Thao 5/12-.417
POINT RUNS OF 3+:
Xiong 6, Thao 2
POINTS:
Xiong 35
Winners 16: Drops 7, Smashes 5, Drives 3, Clears 1
Thao Errors 23: hitting 22 (Net 11, Wide 6, Drive 5); serving 1 (deep 1)
Unknown: 3 (when I was trying to get situated, or got caught looking down)
Thao 17
Winners 7: Drives 2, Smashes 2, Soft Drives 1, Clears 1, Drops 1
Khoua Errors 9: hitting 9 (Net 7, Wide 2)

SECOND SINGLES
Harding's Stephanie King led early in game one 6-2 with five straight points helped out by a pair of clears. Goly Yang had her own streak of 7 during a 13-4 run. Yang had three drops in the mix. Two of Yang's points came off King's missed serve. King rallied to 17-15 on a 6-2 run again. Yang used a clear , and then served an ace to inch closer to game one victory. The fact that Yang was able to get six side outs in the first game helped secure the win.

King again led early in game two 5-1 This time it was King that ruled the side out game with five in the seven Yang chances this game. King also used runs to full effect. She had four in this game. Yang did close to 10-7 but King finished the contest with an 11-2 run to knot the contest up one apiece.

By this time Harding had secured the win with four points. Still this was a fiercely contested match. The serve rotations came to 11, the most of any of the three games. The King pattern of leading early didn't hold in this game. Yang led 4-2 with drops for three points. It soon became a game of runs. The next four serving sequences all had runs. The side out game had evaporated. Yang had a run of two to stop the rampant run game. Yang was the first to get a side out after six services. The contest shifted over to a side out game for the next five serves. Yang was able to break free for one point on her 7th serve. The advantage held the rest of the game. Yang ended the game with a smash.

The odd thing in this match was King outpointed Yang 53-51 in the three games. Also King had four more 3+ runs. However Yang trumped King in sideout % and in winners 27-21.

SECOND SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Yang 14/26-.538; King 13/28-.464
POINT RUNS OF 3+:
King 8, Yang 4
POINTS:
Yang 51
Winners 27: Drops 9, Clears 5, Smashes 5, Drives 5, Aces 2, Soft Drives 1
King errors 24: Hitting 20 (Wide 9, Net 7, Deep 4); Serving 4 (Wide 3, Short 1)
King 53
Winners 21: Clears 8, Drives 4, Drops 3, Smashes 3, Soft drives 2, Aces 1
Yang errors: 32: Hitting 31 (Net 10, Wide 9, Deep 7, Fans 5) Serves 1 (wide 1)

photos: #1 Mee Xiong moves forward to take a drop shot. #2. Pang Thao looks for a smash attempt. #3 Goly Yang rushes the net. #4. Stephanie King with a back hand. photos by kja

SINGLES
1. Mee Xiong (H) beat Pang Thao 21-9, 21-14
2. Goly Yang (J) beat Stephanie King 21-16, 8-21, 21-16
3. Olamade Fudahunsi (J) beat Crystal Yang 21-16, 21-4
4. Kazoua Yang (H) beat Chia Lor 21-17, 21-15
DOUBLES
1. Kia Thao/Belick Pha (J) beat Mai Ngia Xiong/Mor Xiong 21-16, 22-20
2. Chao Xiong/Pa Nhia Vang (H) beat Mai Thao/Sheng Thao 21-15, 22-20
3. Gao Thao/Pa Nyia Thao (H) beat Shoua Vang/Kou Nou Chang 21-13, 21-15

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 2-2 .500
Games: Harding 5-4 .556
Points: Harding 157-147 .516
decided by 10+: Harding 2-1 .667
decided by 3-: 0-0
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 2-1 .667
games: Harding 4-2 .667
points: Harding 121-106 .533
decided by 10+: 0-0
decided by 3-: 1-1

Next up: tomorrow

Out & About: St. Paul Harding/St. Paul Highland Park

#1 posting 4.21.2008
badminton news & information

ST. PAUL HARDING knights 6,
ST. PAUL HIGHLAND PARK scots 1

St. Paul Harding hosted Highland Park and beat the Scots 6-1. HP won at first singles in three games, while Harding took the rest in two games. The Knights were able to score on six of every 10 points today. Earlier this year Harding won 5-2. Last time HP won at 3rd doubles. Harding has a rough schedule this week with Johnson on Wednesday, and then a triangular at Burnsville on Thursday with Eden Prairie too.
Today was scheduled as a triangular, but Minneapolis South was at Burnsville and will take on Harding on the 30th of April instead.

FIRST SINGLES
Khoua Xiong beat Mee Xiong in three and was the only HP point on the day. Mee Xiong had more total points in the match and a better side out percentage, but Khoua Xiong was able to rally in games one and two to take the match.

In game one, Harding's Mee Xiong led 7-3 after getting four straight side outs. On Khoua's fifth serve she was able to squeeze out three points. Mee broke a 9 all tie with three straight. The key turning point in game one came on Khoua's 8th serve when she added 8 points to her totals and take a 19-13 lead. Both players were using the full court, and rallies went back and forth. Khoua served wide to give the ball back to Mee. She added two more to her totals to make it 19-16. The rest of the game was a side out game with Khoua ending up on top 21-17.

Game two belonged totally to Mee. Mee trailed 7-6 when she ran off six straight on her 6th serve. That put the lead at 13-7. She finished with an 8-2 run. Mee's side out game shut down any Khoua surge. Khoua was only able to get two points off her serve and only had two winners in that game.

In the last game Mee led off where she left off with the first three points, all on Khoua hitting errors. Khoua got the bird back on a back handed hitting error in the net. She then added four points on her serve. There were seven ties up to 11 all. Khoua broke free after a 5-1 run thanks to the clear shot. Three of the five points were clears, and had 11 clears for the entire match. Mee got the bird back after a wide Khoua serve. Mee Xiong served up four points to go back in front 17-16. Khoua took the lead at 19-17 with an ace in a three point run. Mee matched her with three straight and on the verge at 20-19 after a drop. Khoua Xiong got the 20th point on her own drop shot and then never gave the bird back. She used a drive and then, for the final point, delivered an ace deep.

FIRST SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Khoua 13/27 .481; Mee 16/27-.593
POINT RUNS OF 3+:
Khoua 7, Mee 9
POINTS:
Khoua 53
Winners 30: Clears 11, Aces 6, Drives 6, Drops 4, Smashes 2, Soft Drives 1
Mee Errors 23: hitting 22 (Net 11, Wide 6, Drive 5); serving 1 (deep 1)
Mee 58
Winners 21: Drops 8, Drives 7, Clears 3, Smashes 1, Aces 1, unknown 1
Khoua Errors 37: hitting 32 (Net 22, Deep 5, Wide 4, Fan 1), serving 5 (wide 3, deep 1, Net 1)

Time: 20:49

photo: #1 Khoua Xiong of Highland Park after a hard drive. #2 Mee Xiong able to react to a quick shot. photos kja

FOURTH SINGLES
After that the 4th singles took the court. Harding's Kazoua Yang won in two over Nhu Richards. One key difference between the two was Yang was able to garner seven three point runs to Richards' one. Also the side out game worked in favor of Yang.
In the first game Richards led 2-0 before Yang got on the board. Richards tied it at 5 and that was the final time it was close. Yang ran off five straight to make it 10-5. Yang had two more long runs in that victory.
In game two Richards led again 2-0 and again at 4-2. Once again Yang was able to squeeze runs off her serve. Yang led 13-7 after her fifth serve. Richards had more staying power in this game with a 5-1 run and being able to close the margin to 15-13. Service errors plagued Richards with three in this game and five for the match. That is what stopped her serve run at 15-13, and it also finished the contest.
You also can see the difference in side out %, and points off errors with the first singles. The number of winners tended to be lower.

Photos: #1 Kazoua Yang uses her body English to get the shot where she wants it. #2. Nhu Richards hits a back hand for HP. photos by kja

FOURTH SINGLES NUMBERS
SIDEOUTS:
Yang 7/15 .467; Richards 5/16 .313
POINT RUNS OF 3+:
Yang 7, Richards 1
POINTS:
Yang 42
Winners 16: Drops 4, Smashes 3, Clears 3, Aces 2, Drives 2
Richards Errors 27: hitting 22 (Net 12, Wide 7, Deep 3); serving 5 (Wide 3, Deep 2)
Richards 24
Winners 6: Soft Drives 2, Clears 2, Drives 1, Smashes 1
Yang Errors 18: hitting 16 (Deep 8, Net 7, Wide 1 ), serving 5 (wide 1, deep 1)

SINGLES
1. Khoua Xiong (HP) beat Mee Xiong 21-17, 10-21, 22-20
2. Stephanie King (H) beat Micha Everts 21-15, 21-7
3. Crystal Yang (H) beat Mai Yia Moua 21-9, 21-17
4. Kazoua Yang (H) beat Nhu Richards 21-9, 21-16
DOUBLES
1. Mai Ngia Xiong/Mor Xiong (H) beat Pa Kou Lor/Drew Thao 21-12, 21-11
2. Chao Xiong/Pa Nhia Vang (H) beat Grace Moran/Alison Cole 21-19, 21-15
3. Alana Yang/Pa Nyia Thao (H) beat Seng Lee/Pa Ying Moua 21-12, 21-17

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 3-1 .750
Games: Harding 7-2 .778
Points: Harding 184-126 .594
decided by 10+: Harding 4-0
decided by 3 or less: Highland Park 1-0
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 3-0 1.000
games: Harding 6-0 1.000
points: Harding 126-86 .594
decided by 10+: Harding 1-0
decided by 3: Harding 1-0

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