Eden Prairie Sweeps South

#1 posting 4.10.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MONDAY'S RESULTS
I gave you the Henry/Humboldt out & about from yesterday.
Also yesterday Eden Prairie put the skunk on Mpls South 7-0. EP is 2-2 now with South checking in at 4-2.

Here is the rankings of the teams
1 harding 2 0
2 highland park 1 0
3 burnsville 3 1
4 eden prairie 2 1
5 johnson 2 2
6 arlington 2 3
7 edison 2 1
8 henry 5 2
9 central 1 2
10 south 4 2
11 humboldt 1 3
12 como park 1 1
13 southwest 2 2
14 washburn 2 3
15 north 1 3
16 roosevelt 0 4
Next up: later today with another out & about.

Out & About: Mpls Henry/St. Paul Humboldt

#2 posting 4.9.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

MINNEAPOLIS HENRY patriots 4
ST. PAUL HUMBOLDT hawks 3

In the second match up of the year Henry edged Humboldt 4-3. Henry took the top three singles and first doubles to win the event. Henry won first singles and doubles in three. The duo of Mai Chia Yang and Yer Yang won their first doubles match 23-21 in the third game. Henry is now 5-2 on the year, while Humboldt is 1-3.

FIRST SINGLES
Henry's Mai Vang took the first game 21-9, and established domination early going up 5-0 before Mai Chor Lee got on the board. Vang was able to side out on Lee's first five serve. Lee was able to score off her 6th and 7th serve and closed the gap to 11-8 before a Vang drop stopped her momentum. Vang closed out the contest with a 9-1 run. Vang had 8 drops for points in game one.

In game two Vang started off with two points. Again Vang cut Lee's serve off with six straight side outs. Vang led 12-6 at this point. Vang again had three more Side outs on Lee's serve. It was Vang up 18-12. However Vang muffed two serves at her 9th and 11th serve. Lee took advantage of the situation by blowing the door open with 8 straight points. Four of those points came on gifts by Vang. As it was it was all knotted up after Lee's 21-18 win.

In game three Lee had the first lead at 1-0 with a smash, but then Vang ran off the next four points. Again the sideout game was working as Vang held Lee to one serve three straight times. Vang had a comfortable lead at 12-4 lead. But then the sideout game left Vang. Lee started to climb back in to the game from a 15-6 deficit to five point margin at 17-12. Lee had four straight points, two on hitting errors. Vang stopped Lee with a drive and then added two on her serve to put her on the verge 20-12. Lee held off for two points, but put the birdie in the net for Vang's 21st point.

SIDEOUTS; Vang 18/27-.667; Lee 9/26--.346
SERVE RUNS: Vang 4, Lee 2
POINTS:
Vang 60: Drops 20, SPH hitting errors 19 (7 wide, 6 net; 3 general; 1 fan) 6 drives, 6 smashes; 6 clears; SPH Serving errors 2; Aces 1
Lee: 44; MH hitting errors 17 (wide 7, fans 4, net 3, general 2, deep 1); Drops 11; MH serving errors 5; Clears 4; Drives 3; Smashes 2; unknown 2

FOURTH SINGLES
This game started late and that is why you get bonus coverage. It was Humboldt's Gao Vang taking this contest coming back from a 17-12 deficit in game one. It took a while for her to warm up. She trailed by as many as seven. Yang had three straight side outs to build the lead, but then the roof caved in. Vang finished game one with a 12-2 run.

Vang continued that momentum in the second game racing out to a 6-0 lead. Yang had thre hitting errors in that opening sequence. Vang had another big run late in the game with five straight to make it 19-8.

SIDEOUTS: Vang 6/14---.429; Yang 6/15---.400
SERVE RUNS: Vang 4, Yang 1
POINTS: Vang 42: MH hitting errors: 16 (wide 6, net 4, fan 3, deep 2, general 1); Drops 9, Drives 8, Aces 2, Clear 2, MH serving errors 2; smash 1.
Yang: 29. SPH hitting errors: 10 (net 5, wide 2, fan 1, deep 1, general 1); Drops 7; General 3; SPH serving errors 3; Clears 2; drives 2; smashes 1

SINGLES
1. Mai Vang (MH) def Mai Chor Lee 21-9, 18-21, 21-14
2. Lisa Thao (MH) def Shoua Moua 21-18, 21-9
3. Chua Pha (MH) def Sunny Vang 21-8, 21-15
4. Gao Vang (SPH) def Hnia Yang 21-17, 21-12
DOUBLES
1. Mai Chia Yang/Yer Yang (MH) def Sheng Yang/Pha Yang 21-15, 16-21, 23-21
2. Nou Yang/Youa Yang (SPH) def Dia Lee/Bao Xiong 21-14, 21-14
3. Jeanette Riopel/Sarah Santos (SPH) def Kaablia Vang/Jessica Lee 21-13, 21-11

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Henry 3-1 .750
Games: Henry 6-3 .667
points: 173-136 .560
decided by 2: 0
decided by 10+: Henry 3-0
DOUBLES
Matches: Humboldt 2-1 .667
Games: Humboldt 5-2 .714
points: Humboldt 141-112 .557

next up: tomorrow morning

Schedule for April 9-12

#1 posting 4.9.2007
your periodic dose of badmington news & information

NEW FORMAT
As you can see I dressed up the site somewhat. I added some things (like the video clips and news feed), and rearraigned some elements. I also changed the colors and format. I hope it is easier to read.
For the videos, if you click on a video it will come up at the very top of the page. #3 is a long doubles point.

SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Monday, April 9:
St. Paul Humboldt at Mpls Henry; Eden Prairie at South
Tuesday, April 10:
MPLS: North at Roosevelt; Henry at Edison; Southwest at South
STP: Harding at Central; Highland Park at Johnson; Como Park at Arlington
NONCON: Mpls Washburn at Burnsville
Wednesday, April 11;
Eden Prairie at St. Paul Highland Park
Thursday, April 12:
MPLS: Edison at Southwest; South at Henry; Washburn at North
STP: Humboldt at Central; Como Park at Highland Park; Arlington at Harding
NONCON: Burnsville at Roosevelt

So far I have seen 6 of the 16 teams this year. I will be adding 8 teams to that list after this week.

Next up: an Out & about later today

Badminton Preview

#1 posting 4.3.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

The Star Tribune has a preview of the Badminton season with St. Paul Harding picked as the team to beat.

Next up: There is no action this week, so it could be next week.

Burnsville's Season

#1 posting 4.2.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

BURNSVILLE'S SEASON
Burnsville has opened the season 3-1. The ThisWeek paper has the results of their matches aganist Mpls Henry 7-0, and St. Paul Como Park 4-3.

Next up: ? there are no matches this week. So my guess is next week when things kick in again. I will have a poll up later, perhaps Thursday.

4-3 All Around

#1 posting 3.30.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

THURSDAY ACTION
In Minneapolis it was South topping Edison 4-3. It was Edison's first loss of the year. South is 3-1 in the city, 4-1 overall.
Washburn picked up their second straight win also 4-3 over Roosevelt.
No word on Henry and Southwest.

In St. Paul I reported on the Johnson 4-3 win over Arlington.
No word on the Central vs Como Park or Harding vs Humboldt action.

Now with spring break, badminton takes a break. Action picks up April 10.

next up: when news breaks.

Out & About: Johnson/Arlington

#2 posting 3.29.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

ST. PAUL JOHNSON governors 4,
ST. PAUL ARLINGTON phoenix 3

Johnson won this St. Paul battle by sweeping the doubles and taking 4th singles. The match hung in the balance as the 4th singles was the last to come in. With the win Johnson is now 1-1 in the St. Paul City, 2-2 overall. Arlington is 0-2 in the city, 2-3 overall.

FIRST SINGLES
Ling Wang of Arlington took the first four points and never trailed, althougth the game was tied a variety of times. Wang led 7-4 when Pa Kou Vang scroed three in a row to tie it at 7. After Wang broke serve, each player traded serves for the next four services. Wang was the first to score again on her serve with a clear to make it 13-11. Vang placed a drop to get serve back and then had a drive on her serve to tie it at 13. Wang returned the favor with her own drive for point 14. Wang received a point on a hitting error and then was handcuffed to make it 15-14. Vang served deep and then Wang kept serve for the next five points. She started the run with two clears (and one fan) and then sandwiched a drop between two drives. Wang took game one 21-14.

Wang had first serve and scored on her first serve as Vang fanned on a shot. For the next 9 serves the other player held to make it 5-5. On Vang's 5th serve she put together three points with a drive, a clear, and then a fan. She ended her own serve by serving deep. After that serve however Vang would not trail. The fact was Wang was only able to score twice on her serve---the first tiime and then on her 10th time. By that time she trailed 15-9 before ending Pa Kou Vang's serve with a drop. Ling Wang then put together four straight points with a drop and three Pa Kou Vang hitting errors. That put the score at 15-14. Vang was able to clear to stop the momentum and regain the edged. She then got a five point run with the first four all hitting errors. Vang finished with a clear for point 21. I had the score 21-14. It was reported 21-15.

On the first 7 services in game three only Pa Kou Vang was able to score as Ling Wang was wide on a shot. The biggest Vang lead was one point, the last time at 4-3. The game remained tight with one point separating the two until Ling Wang's 6th serve. She then ran off six straight points to break an 8-7 game into 14-7. In the run Wang had two drops, with a handcuff, two clears, and one Vang hitting error. Her serve ended on a Ling Wang hitting error that went deep. That started a 4-1 run by Vang as she cut the lead to 15-11. But on Ling Wang's 8th serve she added four more points to put the game at match point 20-11. Wang hit deep to give the serve back to Pa Kou Vang. She hit deep to finish this match 21-12.

SIDEOUTS
Wang: 19/30, .633; Vang 19/29 .655.
SERVE RUNS OF 3+
Wang 5, Vang 2
POINTS
Ling Wang (A): 56; J Hitting Errors: 20 (net 8, wide 7, fans 3, deep 2); Drops 16, Clears 7, Drives 6, Missed serves (deep) 4; Smash 2, Handcuff 1
Pa Kou Vang (J): 47; A Hitting Errors: 19 (deep 7, wide 5, net 5, fan 2); Drops 13, Clears 9, Drives 3, Handcuffs 2, Serve (short) 1

FOURTH SINGLES
I didn't get to this match until the tail end and Gina Garcia was dominating scoring 10 of the last 11 points. Six of the points came via Arlington hitting errors. With Garcia's win Johnson took the match 4-3.

SINGLES
1. Ling Wang (A) def. Pa Kou Vang 21-14, 15-21, 21-12
2. Pam Vang (A) def. Ye Thao 21-6, 21-8
3. Kazou Yang (A) def. Kia Thao 21-15, 6-15, 22-20
4. Gina Garcia (J) def. Linda Lee 21-10, 21-6
DOUBLES
1. Karen Obermeyer-Kolb/Pang Thao (J) def Khue Yang/Mai Lou Xiong 21-14, 21-16
2. Kao Lee Xiong/Mai Ka Yang (J) def Kosaizee Yang/Mai Xiong Vang 21-9, 21-14
3. Mai Xy Xiong/Hanh To (J) def Kablia Her/Kia Her 22-20, 21-10

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Arlington 3-1, .750
Games: Arlington 6-4, .600
points: Arlington 164-159, .508
decided by 2: Arlington 1-0, 1.000
decided by 10+: Johnson 3-2, .600
DOUBLES
Matches: Johnson 3-0, 1.000
Games: Johnson 6-0, 1.000
points: Johnson 127-83, .605
decided by 2: Johnson 1-0, 1.000
decided by 10+: Johnson 2-0, 1.000

next up: tomorrow morning.

Harding Sweeps Johnson

#1 posting 3.29.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

TUESDAY RESULTS
Here is defending state champ St. Paul Harding's opening day 7-0 win over St. Paul Johnson. Johnson is now 1-2 on the year, 0-1 in the conference. First Singles Pang Thao only allowed 10 points total in the two games against Pakou. Second singles Mee Xiong also had a strong showing with 14 points allowed.
The only game (not match) Johnson was able to win was in first doubles when Karen and Pang took the second game 21-6. The Harding first doubles team of Dia Xiong and PaNhia Yang was able to bounce back in game three 21-13 to win the match.

SINGLES
1. Pang Thao (H) def Pakou Vang 21-5, 21-5
2. Mee Xiong (H) def Kia Thao 21-6, 21-8
3. Stephanie King (H) def Ye Thao 21-16, 21-7
4. Kazoua Yang (H) def Gina Garcia 21-15, 21-17
DOUBLES
1. Dia Xiong/PaNhia Yang (H) def Karen Obermeyer-Kolb/Pang Thao 21-10, 6-21, 21-13
2. Pa Yang/Nalee Xiong (H) def Kao Lee Xiong/Mai Ka Yang 21-19, 21-8
3. Mor Xiong/Mai Ngia Xiong (H) def Belick/Nhia 21-16, 21-16

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Games: Harding 8-0, 1.000
Points: Harding 168-79, .680
games 2 pts or less; 0-0
games 10+ pts: Harding 5-0, 1.000
DOUBLES
Games: Harding 6-1, .857
Points: Harding 132-103, .561
games 2pts or less: Harding 1-0, 1.000
games 10+ pts: Harding 2-1, .667

Next up: an out & about later today.

4-3 Theme, 2 Unknowns

#1 posting 3.28.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

YESTERDAYS RESULTS
MINNEAPOLIS
You can read my out & about with Washburn's win over Southwest 4-3 yesterday.

Also North bumped off South 4-3.

No word on Roosevelt and Henry.

ST. PAUL
Central beat Arlington keeping with the 4-3 theme.

Highland Park broke ranks with a 6-1 win over Humboldt.

no word on Johnson and Harding.

NON CON
Burnsville beat St. Paul Como Park 4-3.

next up: tomorrow. There are no games tonight, so it will be later tomorrow with another out & about.

Out & About: Mpls Washburn/Mpls Southwest

#2 posting 3.27.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

MINNEAPOLIS WASHBURN millers 4
MINNEAPOLIS SOUTHWEST lakers 3

Washburn picked up their first win of the year (1-2) with a narrow 4-3 win at home on Tuesday afternoon. They split the singles taking 1 and 3, and won the first two doubles for the win. All four wins came in early. SW took the last three matches to be decided. SW was missing their 2nd and 3rd singles and a member of their 2nd doubles team. The Lakers also picked up their first loss of the year (2-1)

FIRST SINGLES
Rina Maezato of Washburn won both games in her match, but she started off down 4-1 in the first game. She didn't take the lead until her fourth serve with three straight points 12-9. Maezato was able to side out four of the last five serves by Martha Streng, while scoring on her serve 5/6 of her last serves in that contest. Maezato took game one 21-13.
Just like in the first game Streng took an early lead at 6-4. Maezato ran off five straight points and took the lead at 10-6 on her fourth serve. She never trailed after that. Both players closed out by forcing serve. Of the last 9 serves, 8 were one and done. Streng was able to squeeze one point on her 8th serve, but Maezato shut her down the next three times. Maezato finished game two up 21-18.

Side Out %: Maezato, Washburn 11/19: .579; Streng, Southwest 8/19: .421
Points scored
Maezato: 42 points: 22 SW hitting errors; 7 drives; 4 smashes, 4 drops; 3 clears; 2 aces
Streng: 31 points: 18 W Hitting errors; 8 drives; 4 clears; 3 W serving errors; 2 smashes; 2 drops; 1 ace

3RD DOUBLES
At this point the match was decided in favor of Washburn. This match had been split in the first two games before I arrived. The Washburn pair led 4-1 early, but five straight service points by SW gave them the lead Washburn did tie it up at 8, but the counting in this game was off according to my numbers. Eventually SW did win, but the numbers I had were 20-12 SW. There were quite a few fans (swing and a miss) in this game with 13 between the two teams. SW gave Washburn 6 points on Fans, while receiving 7 from Washburn. The side out % actually favored Washburn at .429 to .286, but SW was able to make better use of their serves with runs of five, four and three. SW won this contest 21-10 in the book, but I had it as I said before 20-12. Washburn won the first game in the set 21-17, while SW took game two 21-13.
One of the SW duo in the 3rd doubles match got so warm she removed her t shirt and played in her sports bra. That was a contrast to the some of the recent immigrants who were covered from head to toe in flowing garments.

SINGLES
1: Rina Maezato (W) def. Martha Streng 21-13, 21-18
2: Emma Kullberg (SW) def. Dani Sack 17-21, 21-18, 21-15
3: Molly Yi (W) def. Anna Yarborough 21-16, 22-21
4: Maya Adler (SW) def. Paris Koehler 21-19, 21-18
DOUBLES
1: Mai Vang/Xee Lee (W) def. Betsy Multoy/Camille Mahlum 21-17, 22-20
2: Montisha Puthawong/Jennie Harrop (W) def. Sarah ?/Karen Hammes 21-15, 21-4
3: Annaka Rosenstone/Abby Knutson (SW) def. Troy Vathe/Lori Lais 17-21, 21-13, 21-10

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Games: Washburn 5-4 .556
Points: Washburn 176-170; .509
decided by 2 or under: 1-1
decided by 10+: 0-0
DOUBLES
games: Washburn 5-2, .714
points: 129-115, .529
decided by 2 or under: Washburn 1-0
decided by 10+: 1-1

Next up: tomorrow

Johnson Edges Eden Prairie

#1 posting 3.27.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
MINNEAPOLIS
I already gave you the Edison/North contest yesterday won by Edison 5-2

Also Southwest beat Roosevelt 5-2

No word on South vs Washburn

NON CONFERENCE
Burnsville gave Mpls Henry the doughnut 7-0

In the tightest contest yesterday St. Paul Johnson edged Eden Prairie 4-3

next up: another out & about later today.

Out & About: Mpls Edison/Mpls North

#2 posting 3.26.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MINNEAPOLIS EDISON tommies 5
MINNEAPOLIS NORTH polars 2

Edison swept the singles and took 2nd doubles in their 5-2 conference win over North. The closest, and longest match of the day took place at 1st doubles with Vang Khang and Phoua Khang of North topping Karrie Lee and Ly Vang 20-22, 21-19, 30-29. 3rd doubles also was a tight contest with North winning in two.

FIRST SINGLES
Nadvia Davis opened with the first points of the contest, and led at one point 13-9. But See Vang came back with three straight points to cut it to 13-12. Davis had a clear to get a two point cushion. She missed her serve, but had the side out on a smash for a 15-13 lead, or so I thought. On Davis' next serve Vang had a drive to get the birdie back, but the score was now tied at 15. Vang scored a point on her serve the next three times, while Davis was not able to score off hers. Vang finished off the first game with two drives 21-17.

Vang took an early 2-1 lead after her serve. Davis, on her second service, was able to take the lead with the help of two aces on clears. Davis led 5-3. On Vang's fifth serve she was able to score off her serve again with two drives, and the game was tied at 8. Davis regained the lead with three straight points to 13-10. She again had two aces with clears again. Vang took command with 7 straight points, 6 on her serve to go up 19-15. When Davis got the serve back she had a service error. Davis got the next three points holding off Vang with two points off Vang hitting errors, and then a drop. Vang finished the night with a drive 21-18.

SIDE OUT %: Vang 15/22 .682; Davis .591

FIRST DOUBLES
I was only able to catch the third game in this match. Vue & Yang held a 9-6 lead with 7 straight points with five hitting errors by Khang & Khang. The North tied it at 9 with three straight points including an ace. They had another three straight run to go up 13-10. The Edison duo tied it at 15. but Khang & Khang again popped up to 17-15. Vue & Yang forced ties at 17, 18, 19, 20, and finally broke through grabbing a 23-22 lead. The North pair went up again at 25-24 off of two hitting errors. Both teams traded serves for the next five straight side outs. The Edison two went up 28-27 on a drive. North held off with an Edison wide hitting error knotting it up at 28. The moved up to 29-28 again on an Edison hitting error in the net. Edison got the serve back on a North hitting error. The final point came off of an Edison serve and again it was a net hit by Edison that finished the longest match.

SINGLES
1. See Vang (E) defeated Nadvia Davis 21-17, 21-18
2. Chue Mai (E) defeated Sassy Yang 21-11, 21-14
3. Julie Lor (E) defeated Foua Khang 21-5, 21-10
4. Pa Nhia Xiong (E) defeated Sarah Hollingshead 21-7, 21-4
DOUBLES
1. Vang Khang/Phoua Khang (N) defeated Karrie Lee/Ly Vang 20-22, 21-19, 30-29
2. Kalia Thao/Charlotte Rymanowski (E) defeated Debbi Hulbert/Kiki Nelson 21-10, 21-14
3. Amanda Seline/Jamie Lee (N) defeated Brenda Vue/Nou Yang 21-19, 22-20

TOTALS
SINGLES
games: Edison 8-0, 1.000
points: Edison 168-86, .661
games decided by 2 pts: 0
games decided by 10+ pts: Edison 5-0
DOUBLES
games: 3-3, .500
points: Edison 151-138, .523
games decided by 2 pts: North 4-1
games decide by 10+ pts: Edison 1-0

Next up: tomorrow

Schedule this Week

#1 posting 3.26.2007
your periodic dose of girls badminton news & information

SCHEDULES THIS WEEK
Monday
Mpls Edison at Mpls North
Mpls Henry at Burnsville
Mpls Roosevelt at Mpls Southwest
Mpls South at Mpls Washburn
St. P. Johnson at Eden Prairie

Tuesday
Mpls Henry at Mpls Roosevelt
Mpls South at Mpls North
Mpls Southwest at Mpls Washburn
St. P Humboldt at St. P Highland Park
St. P Johnson at St. P Harding
St. P Arlington at St. P Central
St. P Como Park at Burnsville

Thursday
Mpls Edison at Mpls South
Mpls Henry at Mpls Southwest
Mpls Washburn at Mpls Roosevelt
St. P Johnson at St. P Arlington
St. P Harding at St. P Humboldt
St. P Central at St. P Como Park

next up: report on a game later today

Southwest Over North

#1 posting 3.23.2007
your periodic dose of girls badminton news & information

Minneapolis Southwest beat Mpls North in conference play 6-1.

While Eden Prairie downed St. Paul Central 4-3 in nonconference action.

next up: tomorrow.

St. Paul 0-2 on Wednesday

#1 posting 3.22.2007
your periodic dose of girls badminton news & information

Burnsville evened up their record at 1-1 with a 4-3 win over St. Paul Johnson yesterday.

Minneapolis South downed St. Paul Arlington by the same score.

next up: tomorrow?

Minneapolis City Opens Play

#1 posting 3.21.2007
your periodic dose of girls badminton news & information

Minneapolis opened conference play yesterday with Edison beating Washburn 6-1 and South downing Roosevelt by the same margin.

I will soon be out & about.

next up: tomorrow

Arlington beat Burnsville

#1 posting 3.20.2007
Your periodic dose of girls badminton news & information

Long time, no post.

Yesterday the season opened with St. Paul Arlington beating Burnsville 4-3.

There will be more updates as the season progresses. Games really take off next week.

next up: tomorrow.

New Henry Assistant

#1 posting 10.30.2006

HENRY ASSISTANT
Minneapolis Henry will have an assistant coach this spring, and it will be a familiar face. Mai Ku Moua, last year's Minneapolis singles champ will be helping coach Tim Miller.

Henry won the conference last year.

Next up: when news breaks

Badminton to Volleyball

#1 posting 8.19.2006

BADMINTON TO VOLLEYBALL
Badminton coaches want volleyball players due to their hitting and there are a few badmintoners playing volleyball at Minneapolis Henry. Wendy Vang, Yer Yang, and Sara Grauvilardell to name a few are playing volleyball. Last year's badminton city champion Mai Ku Moua also played volleyball and was captain in both sports.

Next up September

Quiet Summer

#1 posting 7.21.2006

To be honest there is not a lot of badminton camps, leagues, tournaments that are promoted like the traveling basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball etc.

I feel that badminton players are really playing for the love of the sport. They may work on the game with their friends, but the contacts along the lines of AAU or Nike tournaments are just not trumpeted as loudly.

If you do have news send it along.