Out & About: Henry/North

#2 posting 4.19.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

MINNEAPOLIS HENRY patriots 6
MINNEAPOLIS NORTH polars 1

Henry almost swept their neighbor with North holding out at third doubles. The doubles had tighter games with three going down to two points. Henry had a change at first singles with Lisa Thao taking over in place of Mai Vang. With the win Henry is 7-4 overall 6-1 in conference, second in Minneapolis behind Edison. North is 3-5.

FIRST SINGLES
Lisa Thao stepped up from second singles to win her first singles match against Nadvia Davis. Thao did so despite losing the first game 21-14. Thao led in game one as she scored on her first three serves 6-2. Davis closed with a flourish as she out scored Thao 11-2. Davis had two service runs of three or better to close out game one. Davis used the clear to advantage in the first five point run, and she used Thao errors for three of the last four points. I only counted 20 points but it goes in the books 21-14.

Game two was almost the opposite. Davis led early 6-2. Thao scored on three of four serves to edge forward 11-10, Thao used three straight hitting errors to get the lead. Davis went back up 13-12. Then Thao edged forward with a drop shot 18-16, after a hitting error Davis got the serve back. A Davis error returned the serve to Thao. She cleared for point 20, but then four straight errors put Davis up 21-20 and on the brink. Thao held off with a drop and then on her own serve closed out with a fan by Davins and then a drive 23-21.

Thao zoomed forward early with a 6-0 service run to open game three. The pendulum swung back to Davis with five straight points. Davis used a soft drive for two of the points. The points Davis was getting came courtesy of Thao hitting errors. The closest Davis got was 10-9, Thao topped the match off with five straight points, two of which were clears.

SIDEOUTS: Thao 18/30---.600; Davis 15/31---.484
SERVE RUNS: Davis 4, Thao 2
POINTS:
Thao 58: Winners: 24 Clears 8, Drops 7, Drives 5, Aces 2, Smashes 2
Davis Errors 34: hitting 28 (net 11, wide 11, fan 4, deep 1, general 1); serving 6 (deep 4, wide 2)
Davis 55: Winners 21: Drives 11, Clears 6, Smashes 3, Aces 1
Thao Errors 34: hitting 31 (wide 13, net 12, deep 3, fans 3), serving 3 (2 deep, 1 wide)

SINGLES
1. Lisa Thao (H) def Nadvia Davis 14-21, 23-21, 21-14
2. Mai Vang (H) def Mekka Clark 21-11, 21-16
3. Hnia Yang (H) def Foua Khang 21-12, 21-12
4. Padao Yang (H) def Sarah Hollingshead 21-12, 25-23
DOUBLES
1. Mai Chia Yang/Yer Yang (H) def Vang Khang/Poua Khang 21-7, 21-14
2. Yer Yang/Choua Yang (H) def Kiki Nelson/Debbi Hulbert 22-20, 21-14
3. Jamie Lee/Amanda Seline (N) def Bao Xiong/Dia Lee 21-19, 22-20

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Henry 4-0 1.000
Games: Henry 8-1 .889
Points: Henry 188-142 .570
decided by 10+: Henry 1-0
decided by 3 or less: Henry 2-0
DOUBLES
matches: Henry 2-1 .667
games: Henry 4-2 .667
points: Henry 124-98 .559
decided by 10+: Henry 1-0
decided by 3: North 2-1

Next up: tomorrow morning

4-3 Around St. Paul

#1 posting 4.19.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
The big event was at Burnsville yesterday with Harding going a perfect 7-0 in both contests against Burnsville and Eden Prairie. Not only did they win 14 matches they never went three games. It was all two and out. And it was against the #2 and #3 teams in the state.

ST. PAUL ACTION
In a trio of 4-3 games it was Arlington over Highland Park; Johnson bumping off Central, and Como Park edging Humboldt.

Next up: later today

Out & About: Burnsville Triangular

#2 posting 4.18.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

BURNSVILLE TRIANGULAR

St. Paul Harding left no doubt who controls the number one spot in the state with two sweeps over #2 Burnsville and #3 Eden Prairie. In the final match of the day it was Burnsville topping Eden Prairie 4-3.

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

Harding swept all matches and all 2-0. The closest contest came at first doubles when Harding's duo of Dia Xiong and PaNhia Yang beat Burnsville's pair of Michelle Teigland and Lynsay Mortenson 42-32.

FIRST SINGLES
Burnsville's Gabby Alvarez held a 4-2 early in game one. In her next six services she was able to squeeze out one point as defending state champ Pang Thao sided out 5/6. On Thao's fifth serve she notched five points overcoming a 7-6 deficit to take a 12-7 lead. Thao finished the first game with a 14-4 run. I only had 20 for Thao but it goes in the books at 21-11.

Thao had a strong start jumping out to a 14-3 lead. Thao had 8 points on her third serve with the drop the shot of choice. It was even after that point.

I will add the numbers later

SINGLES
1. Pang Thao (H) def Gabby Alvarez 21-11, 21-10
2. Mee Xiong (H) def Jenny Kieffaber 21-9, 21-19
3. Stephanie King (H) def Ciara Hogenson 21-12, 21-17
4. Kazoua Yang (H) def Chesley Ferguson 21-12, 21-11
DOUBLES
1. Dia Xiong/PaNhia Yang (H) def Michelle Teigland/Lynsay Mortenson 21-17, 21-15
2. Pa Yang/Shee Xiong (H) def Natalie Leiker/Amy Lindblad 21-14, 21-15
3. Mor Xiong/Mai Ngia Xiong (H) def Kelsey Rehomera/Molly Schuh 21-11, 21-16
BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 4-0 1.000
Games: Harding 8-0 1.000
Points: Harding 168-101 .625
decided by 10+: Harding 4-0
decided by 3: Harding 1-0
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 3-0 1.000
games: Harding 6-0 1.000
points: Harding 126-88 .589
decided by 10+: Harding 1-0
decided by 2: 0

GAME 2: ST. PAUL HARDING knights 7, EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 0

#2 singles Maddie Lenhard for EP was out of town, so their single rotation was moved up one notch. Bo Kim took over at fourth. Harding swept the matches once again. The tightest matches took at place at first singles and first doubles.

FIRST SINGLES
Pang Thao broke free from a 7 all tie with five straight points on her fifth serve, and added four more on her 6th serve to make it 18-9. Katie Vohnoutka didn't go quietly with 7-3 run, but the hole was too deep to dig out.

In game two Thao led early at 8-4, but Vohnoutka tied it at 10. Thao broke the game open on her 8th serve with seven service points. She was on the verge at 20-12. Vohnoutka held off the inevitable for two more points.

SINGLES
1. Pang Thao (H) def Katie Vohnoutka 21-16, 21-14
2. Mee Xiong (H) def Leslye Suarez 21-7, 21-14
3. Stephanie King (H) def Jenna Hartkopf 21-11, 21-16
4. Kazoua Yang (H) def Bo Kim 21-9, 21-10
DOUBLES
1. Dia Xiong/PaNhia Yang (H) def Rebecca Wade/Larysa Eutenuer 21-19, 21-16
2. Pa Yang/Shee Xiong (H) def Krista Anderson/Kaitlyn Shore 21-11, 21-14
3. Mor Xiong/Mai Ngia Xiong (H) def Alycia Willey/Whitney Walz 21-10, 21-12
BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 4-0 1.000
Games: Harding 8-0 1.000
Points: Harding 168-97 .634
decided by 10+: Harding 3-0
decided by 3: 0
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 3-0 1.000
games: Harding 6-0 1.000
points: Harding 126-82 .606
decided by 10+: Harding 2-0
decided by 2: Harding 1-0

GAME 3: BURNSVILLE blaze 4, EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 3

Katie Vohnoutka left after the Harding game and Krista Anderson of the EP 2nd doubles team both left. So EP had major juggling in their line up. That meant that Leslye Suarez, normally a number three singles was now #1. Nicky Wade moved into fourth singles and picked up the win in the only match that went the distance. Burnsville took the top two singles and odd games in the doubles to claim vicory.

The Alvarez vs Suarez match was tight in both cases, but Alvarez finished on top in both cases. Alvarez held leads early at 7-2 and had a lead as late as 18-14. Suarez ran off four straight to tie the game at 18. An Alvarez soft drive got her point 19 on a side out. Alvarez kept serve for the next two points and the first game win.

Game two was just as tight. Alvarez led early 7-4. Suarez led in game two with four straight points to take the lead 14-12. Alvarez took back the lead with a run of five points at 19-16. After that both players played the side out game for the Burnsville win.

SINGLES
1. Gabby Alvarez (B) def Leslye Suarez 21-18, 21-18
2. Jenny Kieffaber (B) def Jenna Hartkopf 21-18, 21-19
3. Bo Kim (EP) def Ciara Hogenson 21-17, 21-15
4. Nicky Wade (EP) def Chesley Ferguson 21-16, 13-21, 21-18
DOUBLES
1. Michelle Teigland/Lynsay Mortenson (B) def Larysa Eutenuer/Kaitlyn Shore 21-4, 21-9
2. Alycia Willey/Whitney Walz (EP) def Natalie Leiker/Amy Lindblad 21-19, 21-11
3. Kelsey Rehomera/Molly Schuh (B) def Morgan Woodrow/Laura Stone 21-18, 21-16
BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: 2-2
Games: 4-4
Points: Burnsville 171-170 .501
decided by 10+: 0
decided by 3: Burnsville 4-1
DOUBLES
matches: Burnsville 2-1 .667
games: Burnsville 4-2 .667
points: Burnsville 114-89 .562
decided by 10+: Burnsville 2-1
decided by 2: 1-1

Next up: tomorrow morning

Triangulation

#1 posting 4.18.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

TRIANGULATION
The Triangular today at Burnsville will put the top three teams on the court. #1 Harding will open with #2 Burnsville. Harding then plays #3 Eden Prairie. The triangular caps off with Burnsville facing Eden Prairie.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
I reported on the South 4-3 win over Washburn. Also in Minneapolis it was Southwest topping Roosevelt 5-2. No word on the Edison vs North contest.

Next up: later today after the Triangular.

Out & About: South/Washburn

#2 posting 4.17.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH tigers 4
MINNEAPOLIS WASHBURN millers 3

South won a tight contest with Washburn 4-3. Five of the contests went the three game distance. South took the singles 3-1 and third doubles. The match was tied at three with one match still out---third singles. CeCe Durney put that in the South column with a 21-13 win in game three. The doubles had five nailbiters that went down to four points or less. In second doubles the Washburn pair of Putwong and Harrop went long in the first game 24-22 and then took game three 21-19.

FIRST SINGLES
Bee Xiong had to win two in a row to take this contest and did it by cleaning up her errors. In game one Xiong had 15 hitting errors as Rina Maezato took the first contest 21 (or 22 as I had) to 18. Xiong led early in game one as she score on her first five serves. Xiong led 10-6 at this point. Maezato got back in the game with a side out plus three straight service points. Of the four points in that run three were Xiong hitting errors. Maezato had another five point run after being sided out. So a 9-1 run put Maezato up 15-11. Maezato again had another four point run to capped by an ace to go up 18 (19 in my book) to 13. Both players traded points to make it 20 (21) to 15. Xiong held off with three straight points before a hitting error put Maezato up one game to nothing.

Xiong eliminated a good chunk of hitting errors in the second game cutting down from 15 to a more manageable 6. What hurt Maezato in this game was five serving errors. Xiong broke away from a 5-4 margin to 7-4. At this point Xiong had use of three Maezato serving errors. Xiong, when not getting points on serving errors, limited the point scoring opportunities by siding out five more times of the seven opportunities. So Maezato was only able to squeeze two points off her own serve. Xiong had 9 points from her own serve. Xiong had two runs of three or more. Her drop game was working for four points.

In the deciding third game Xiong broke free from a six all tie. Xiong had a serve run of five with three smashes in the mix as the power game kicked in. Maezato had one last kick with a 7-1 run to close to 16-13. Four of those points were the result of Xiong hitting errors. A Maezato hitting error got the serve back in Xiong's hands and she never gave it back with four straight with the power smashes adding points 19 and 20. A clear finished the game 21-13.

SIDEOUTS: Xiong 17/28---.607; Maezato 11/29---.379
SERVE RUNS: Xiong 3, Maezato 3
POINTS:
Xiong 60; Maezato Hitting errors 13 (Fans 6, Wide 6, Deep 1); Smashes 12; Drops 12; Clears 10; Maezato serving errors 8 (Deep 4, Wide 4); Aces 3; Drives 2
Maezato 48; Xiong Hitting errors 27 (Net 14, Wide 7, Deep 5, Fan 1); Drops 6; Aces 4; smashes 4; Xiong serving errors 3 (wide 2, deep 1); Drives 2, Clears 2

SINGLES
1. Bee Xiong (S) def Rina Maezato 18-21, 21-13, 21-13
2. Dani Sack (W) def Ma Xiong 21-19, 17-21, 21-12
3. CeCe Durney (S) def Maly Yi 21-15, 17-21, 21-13
4. Jessica Jolson (S) def Sarah Radcliff 21-8, 21-11
DOUBLES
1. Mai Vang/Xee Lee (W) def Katherine McQuarter/Jackee Heslop 21-9, 17-21, 21-18
2. Montisha Puthwong/Jennie Harrop (W) def Maria Crespo/Rachel Mammen 24-22, 14-21, 21-19
3. Misha Hemmingson/Hannah Heig (S) def Xee Vue/Nicole Weishaar 21-12, 21-19

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: South 3-1 .750
Games: South 7-4 .636
Points: South 213-174 .550
decided by 10+: South 2-0
decided by 3 or less: Washburn 2-0
DOUBLES
matches: Washburn 2-1 .667
games: 4-4
points: South 152-149 .505
decided by 10+: Washburn 1-0
decided by 3: Washburn 3-1

Next up: tomorrow morning

Central Edges Highland

#1 posting 4.17.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

MONDAY RESULTS
It was St. Paul Action yesterday (Minneapolis today).
I reported on the Harding sweep of Como Park yesterday. In other action in the conference Central edged Highland Park 4-3, and Johnson knocked of Humboldt 6-1.

In noncon action it was another 4-3 with Eden Prairie slipping by St. Paul Arlington.

The win by Central moved them up in the polls.

Today is Minneapolis action.

The big event is on Wednesday as the top three teams (Harding, Burnsville, and Eden Prairie) face off in a triangular at Burnsville.

Out & About: Harding/Como Park

#2 posting 4.16.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

ST. PAUL HARDING knights 7
ST. PAUL COMO PARK cougars 0

I got to this game late (about four minutes), but by the time I pulled out my folding chair and got my notebook and pens ready the first singles were over. Pang Thao did wrap up the second win with four straight points. As it was Harding swept Como Park with all matches going 2-0. Harding dominated the singles with seven of the eight games decided by more than 10 points. Harding did move Kazoua Yang to third singles from fourth and did not lose a beat with a 21-7, 21-5 win. Crystal Yang filled in at fourth singles, moving up from JV first singles.
Harding had a tighter go of it with the doubles with second and third doubles down to the wire. Harding's second doubles team was changed with Shee Xiong replacing Nalee Xiong. Pa Yang remained as one of the teammates. Second doubles had the tightest match with both games going to 19.

I was not able to get the first singles covered, but I was there for the entire 3rd doubles (which usually don't get covered) so...

THIRD DOUBLES
The Harding pair of Mor Xiong and Mai Ngia Xiong beat Panhia Lor and Nou Fang 21-16 and 21-19. Xiong and Xiong took an early 3-0 lead in game one. Then missed serves took over as the next three of the next four points failed to find the mark. Xiong & Xiong ran off five points to get an 11-4 lead four on Mai Ngia's serve. Harding scored on the next two serves, but then failed to get points on their next three. Xiong and Xiong finished with a drive to end the first game officially at 21-16.

The Como duo held a lead at 8-6 in game two. Four straight points by Harding put them back in front 10-8. The next Como lead came at 17-16 after a pair of Harding hitting errors. A side out tied the game up. Then Mor Xiong delivered two serves for points on Como hitting errors 19-17. Both teams traded side outs with Harding placing a drop for point 21.

SIDEOUTS: Harding 16/23---.696; Como Park 11/23---.478
SERVE RUNS: Harding 2, Como Park 0
POINTS:
Harding 42: Como Park Hitting Errors: 19; Drives 13; Como Park Serving errors 2; Clears 2; Drops 2; Aces 1; Smash 1, ??? 2
Como Park 35: Harding Hitting Errors 12; Harding Serving Errors 5; Drives 4; Aces 3; Drops 3; Smashes 2; ??? 3; Clears 1

SINGLES
1. Pang Thao (H) def Lee Fang 21-8, 21-7
2. Mee Xiong (H) def Der Vang 21-6, 21-7
3. Kazoua Yang (H) def Mai Yer Lee 21-7, 21-5
4. Crystal Yang (H) def Shaundera Worrel 21-10, 21-14
DOUBLES
1. Dia Xiong/PaNhia Yang (H) def Mai Tia Yang/Mai Keo Yang 21-18, 21-6
2. Pa Yang/Shee Xiong (H) def Panhia Yang/Mai Keo Yang 21-19, 21-19
3. Mor Xiong/Mai Ngia Xiong (H) def Panha Lor/Nou Fang 21-16, 21-19

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 4-0 1.000
Games: Harding 8-0 1.000
Points: Harding 168-64 .724
decided by 10+: Harding 7-0
decided by 3: 0
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 3-0 1.000
games: Harding 6-0 1.000
points: Harding 126-97 .565
decided by 10+: Harding 1-0
decided by 2: Harding 2-0

Last Thursday Harding downed Arlington 6-1. Here is the breakdown
SINGLES
1. Pang Thao (H) def Ling 21-11, 21-11
2. Pam (A) def Mee Xiong 21-15, 21-16
3. Stephanie King (H) def Cha 21-5, 21-3
4. Kazoua Yang (H) def. Linda 21-2, 21-13
DOUBLES
1. Dia Xiong/PaNhia Yang (H) def Kosaizee/Mai Xiong 21-9, 21-12
2. Pa Yang/Nalee Xiong (H) def Kablia/Kia 21-17, 21-12
3. Mor Xiong/Mai Ngia Xiong (H) def Wendy/Mai See 21-13, 21-19

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Harding 3-1 .750
Games: Harding 6-2 .750
Points: Harding 157-87
decided by 10+: Harding 5-0
decided by 3: 0
DOUBLES
matches: Harding 3-0 1.000
games: Harding 6-0 1.000
points: Harding 126-82 .606
decided by 10+: Harding 1-0
decided by 2: Harding 1-0

Next up: tomorrow morning

Week Ahead

#1 posting 4.16.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

THE WEEK AHEAD
Here is the schedule for the week to come highlighted by the Burnsville Triangular on Wednesday with Harding and Eden Prairie.
Monday April 16
Humboldt at Johnson
Como Park at Harding
Highland Park at Central
Eden Prairie at Arlington
Tuesday, April 17
Burnsville at Mpls Henry
North at Edison
Roosevelt at Southwest
Washburn at South
Wednesday, April 18
Arlington at Highland Park
Johnson at Central
Humboldt at Como Park
Harding at Burnsville Triangular. Eden Prairie is also there
Thursday, April 19
Johnson at Highland Park
Edison at Washburn
Henry at North
Roosevelt at South
Friday April 20
Harding at Highland Park
Arlington at Humboldt
Johnson at Como Park

Next up: later today with an out & about

North Wins Third Straight

#1 posting 4.13.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

THURSDAY RESULTS
MINNEAPOLIS
Minneapolis North won their third straight 4-3 game, this time over Washburn.
No word on the Edison at Southwest or South at Henry contests.

ST. PAUL
Central shutout Humboldt 7-0
In the battle of the Parks it was Highland over Como 5-2.
No word on the Arlington/Harding contest.

NONCON
As reported in yesterday's out & about Burnsville swept Minneapolis Roosevelt 7-0.

I have added the rankings list on the right. It is updated after each day.
If I am missing a result, send it to me.

next up: Monday.

Out & About: Burnsville/Roosevelt

#1 posting 4.12.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

BURNSVILLE blaze 7
MINNEAPOLIS ROOSEVELT teddies 0

Burnsville swept Roosevelt 7-0, but Roosevelt did push the first doubles to three games before falling. Burnsville "blazed" their way with no real tight contests other than the first doubles. The previous best for a single point score was with Edison over North with a score of .661. Burnsville had a .730 score today.

FIRST SINGLES
Gabby Alvarez took control right off the bat with three straight points. Her drive game was humming in both games with 11 points in the first game including the first two points. Tenzing Norden did close to 7-5 as she had a side out smash and then had two points scored on Alvarez hitting errors. But then Alvarez stepped up her game and closed with a 14-3 run. On Alvarez's fifth serve she had a 7 straight points on her serve, all a result of Alvarez action (no gifts from Norden). Two of the points on that run were drives that handcuffed Norden. I actually had Alvarez at 22 points. In the books it was Alvarez 21-8.

Alvarez ran off five straight points on her second serve again all on drives with one drop. On Alvarez's fourth serve she added six more points. That put the score 17-4. The match ended on a drop and a 21-6 Alvarez win.

SIDEOUTS: Alvarez 10/12---.833; Norden 2/12---.167
SERVE RUNS: Alvarez 5, Norden 0
POINTS:
Alvarez 42: Drives 21; Norden hitting errors 7 (5 net, 2 wide); Drops 6, Clears 4, Smash 3, Ace 2, Norden Serving error 1
Norden: 14: Alvarez hitting errors 10 (6 wide, 4 net); Smash 1, Drop 1, Drive 1, Alvarez Serving errors 1

FIRST DOUBLES
I was able to catch the final game of this match and it started off with 11 straight side outs. Burnsville's duo of Michelle Teigland and Lyndsay Mortenson was finally able to keep serve. They added two points with a smash and then a drive to make it 8-5. The Blaze side out game kept Mallory Brand and Tina Rojas away from points. Burnsville forced 8 straight side outs. Burnsville built up a 16-7 lead before Brand & Rojas scored on their own serve. They did close to 16-10, but a Burnsville side out ended that. Hitting errors provided the last few points for Burnsville 21-12.

SINGLES
1. Gabby Alvarez (B) def. Tenzing Norden 21-8, 21-6
2. Jenny Kieffaber (B) def. Tenzing Khendu 21-2, 21-8
3. Ciara Hogenson (B) def. Tenzin Wangmo 21-9, 21-5
4. Heidi Werness (B) def. Passang Chozum 21-15, 21-9
DOUBLES
1. Michelle Teigland/Lyndsay Mortenson (B) def. Mallory Brand/Tina Rojas 21-8, 13-21, 21-12
2. Natalie Leiker/Amy Lindblad (B) def. Cindy Lee/Pa Houa Lor 21-7, 21-8
3. Kelsey Rehome/Molly Schuh (B) def. Nicasia Gulindo/Elizabeth Garcia 21-12, 21-14

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Burnsville 4-0 1.000
Games: Burnsville 8-0 1.000
Points: Burnsville 168-62 .730
decided by 10+: Burnsville 7-0
decided by 3: 0
DOUBLES
matches: Burnsville 3-0 1.000
games: Burnsville 6-1 .833
points: Burnsville 139-82 .629
decided by 10+: Burnsville 3-0
decided by 2: 0

Next up: tomorrow

Out & About: Eden Prairie/Highland Park

#2 posting 4.11.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

EDEN PRAIRIE eagles 5
ST. PAUL HIGHLAND PARK scots 2

The calendar may say spring, but it was a winterwonderland outside. Badminton keeps rolling with the games all tucked nicely inside climate controlled facilities. No postponements here.

This game was much tighter than the final score indicated. All the singles went the max to three games. EP took three of those singles to put their stamp on the contest. On the doubles side, both 2nd and 3rd doubles started off going extra points, again a measure of how tight the match was. But I saw games where both players lost track of points. Game 3 of 3rd singles ended way too early with Panhia Lee trailing in my book 18-17. In the official scorecard Lee won game three 21-18. How four points disappeared is probably due to losing track of the score during long stretches. On another note, the spectating angles at Highland are tight. I had to climb the bleachers to watch as there is no safe spot on the floor to watch the action.

FIRST SINGLES
In this fast moving game things seemed rushed especially in game three.
In game one EP's Katie Vohnoutka grabbed the early lead on three hitting errors, all in the net, by Khoua Xiong. Vohnoutka maintained the lead to 7-5 when Xiong got her fourth straight side out. She then picked up two service points to go up 8-7. Xiong's next serve was wide to give the serve back to Vohnoutka. She took advantage of that to add two points to her total, the last with a smash. Xiong took the lead after a 6-2 run 14-12. Vohnoutka finished off the game with a 9-4 run. Vohnoutka had three straight side outs to cement the win and prevent Xiong from getting any traction. I had the score 21-17 however, not 21-18.

Khoua Xiong bounced back in game two breaking free late in the contest with a 7-3 run. Xiong was able to stop any big Vohnoutka run and was able to squeeze four runs of three (one point on a side out and then two service points). Both players had five points each on drops in this game. But Vohnoutka had 11 points sent over as gifts for Xiong while only receiving six points in return. Xiong won 21-16

In the deciding third game it seemed as if things were rushed for Xiong. The game was tied at four when Vohnoutka had a hard drive for a side out and then added two points on her serve. Xiong got a side out on a drop to make it 7-5, but then the roof caved in with a 14-1 run by Vohnoutka punctuated by two six serve runs. I got the feeling Xiong was late for another event and wanted this event to be over. Vohnoutka won 21-6.

SIDEOUTS: Vohnoutka 15/27---.556; Xiong 14/28---.500
SERVE RUNS: Vohnoutka 4, Xiong 0
POINTS:
Vohnoutka 57: Xiong hitting errors 22 (14 net, 5 wide, 3 deep); Drives 12; Drops 12; Xiong serving errors 5; Smashes 3; Clears 2; aces 1
Xiong: 45: Vohnoutka hitting errors 23 (9 wide, 5 net, 5 deep, 2 fan, 2 general); Drops 10; Clears 5; Drives 4; Missed serves 2; Aces 1

THIRD SINGLES
This had its own bizarre twist as my book had the third game actually with Leslie Suarez up 18-17 when the players shook hands. Panhia Lee of Highland took the first game by establishing the early lead of 5-1 and 8-2. Lee took advantage of Suarez hitting errors (10) to take game one 21-15.

Suarez cleaned up her game in game two and Lee had more errors (9). Suarez also had her drop game working for five points. Lee led 9-8, but Suarez re-established herself at 14-11. Lee had one last run to go up 16-15. A wide shot gave the ball back to Suarez. That started a four point run for Suarez (3 points on wide shots) to go up 19-16. Suarez added two drops to make it 21-17.

I had Lee up 5-3 early. On Suarez's third serve she racked up six points to go up 10-5. On Suarez's fifth serve she added two more points (along with the side outs too) to go up 14-8. Lee then got a side out on a fan and then had a 5-1 run to slice the lead to 15-13. Suarez got the serve back on a hitting error. Both players had two straight serving errors. That made it 17-14 for Suarez. Lee ended with a 3-1 run to make it 18-17 with Suarez in the lead, but that was the end of the match as both shook hands.

SIDEOUTS: Lee 18/29---.621; Suarez 15/29---.517
SERVE RUNS: Lee 4, Suarez 2
POINTS:
Lee 55: Suarez hitting errors 23 (8 net, 8 fan, 5 wide, 2 deep); Drives 8;
Clears 6; Smashes 6; Drops 6; Aces 3; Suarez Serving errors 3
Suarez: 54: Lee hitting errors 26 (12 Net, 8 wide, 3 fan, 3 deep); Drops 10; Drives 5; Clears 5; Lee serving errors 5; aces 2; smash 1.

SINGLES
1. Katie Vohnoutka (EP) def. Khoua Xiong 21-18, 16-21, 21-6
2. Maddie Lenhard (EP) def. Khou Yang 17-21, 21-18, 21-18
3. Panhia Lee (SPHP) def. Leslie Suarez 21-15, 17-21, 21-18 (I had it 17-18)
4. Jenna Hartkopf (EP) def. Vang Lee 21-17, 17-21, 21-9
DOUBLES
1. Rebecca Wade/Larysa Eutenuer (EP) def. Bee Yang/Pakou Lor 21-17, 21-8
2. Misha Everts/Elena Koronmeyer (SPHP) def. Krista Anderson/Kaitlyn Shore 23-21, 21-15
3. Alycia Willey/Whitney Walz (EP) def. Mainong Hang/Emily Huyhn 27-25, 21-14

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: EP 3-1 .750
Games: EP 7-5 .583
Points: 230-208 .525
decided by 10+: EP 2-0
decided by 3: EP 3-1
DOUBLES
matches: EP 2-1 .667
games: EP 4-2 .667
points: 126-109 .536
decided by 10+: EP 1-0
decided by 2: 1-1

Next up: tomorrow

Edison Takes Minneapolis Lead

#1 posting 4.11.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

TUESDAY RESULTS
ST. PAUL
I reported on the Harding vs Central match up in the out & about last night.
Here is the other St. Paul results
Arlington topped Como Park 5-2
Johnson beat Highland Park 4-3

MINNEAPOLIS
Edison beat Henry in the battle of the top teams in Mpls 5-2.
North edged Roosevelt 4-3
Southwest was one better than South 4-3

NON CON
Burnsville swept Washburn 7-0

Next up: later today with another out & about.

Rankings

BADMINTON RANKINGS

rankings

Out & About: Harding/St. Paul Central

#2 posting 4.10.2007
your periodic dose of badminton news & information

ST. PAUL HARDING knights 5
ST. PAUL CENTRAL minutemen 2

Harding remained undefeated, but they were not able to hold their scoreless streak intact. With a few of their players not playing because they missed practice (including defending state singles champ Pang Thao) Harding had to reshuffle their line up. First and fourth singles, and third doubles were missing. The tightest win for Harding came at second doubles with the match going the distance. But the State champs were able to win sweeping the doubles and taking second and third singles.

FIRST SINGLES
With Pang Thao out Mee Xiong moved up from second singles to replace her for Harding. Lee Vue led early in game one with getting six straight sideouts against Xiong. Vue led 11-6 before a fan gave the birdie back to Xiong. Vue had the advantage throughout the first game. The closest Xiong got was at 13-11 after a drop. A Xiong hitting error stopped that momentum and started Vue's run where she rattled off five straight points. Vue's lead pushed out to 19-12, but when she got the serve back she served deep. That opened the door for three more Xiong points to make the score 19-16. A fan returned serve back to Vue. She ended the first game on a clear 21-16.

Xiong started off game two with three staight points, and also had five straight side outs against
Vue for a 12-4 lead at one point. Xiong on her fifth serve had four straight points. When Vue broke through on her serve she had her own run of three to close to 12-8. Xiong took advantage of three hitting errors to go up 16-10. Vue used two hitting errors and then added a drop to close to 16-13, but that was as close as it was to be. Xiong held Vue to one serve for her last two services to close out the win 21-15.

In the deciding third game Xiong had the early advantage with seven straight side outs against Vue. Xiong led 12-7 breaking through with points on her serve on her 3rd, 4th, and 5th serve. Most of the points however were coming on Vue hitting errors. But Vue also had an impressive side out streak with nine straight over Xiong. Vue climbed back from the deficit to take her first lead at 17-16 on a drop. Neither got more than one point away. Vue did go up 20-18 on a drop, but Xiong fought off elimination with her own drop and then tied it with a drop. The drop was the point of choice for five straight points for each player. On Xiong's serve Vue took advantage of a wide shot by Xiong to go up 22-21. Vue closed with another Xiong hitting error deep.

SIDEOUTS: Vue 23/36---.639; Xiong 24/38---.632
SERVE RUNS: Vue 2, Xiong 2
POINTS: Vue 59: Harding hitting errors 23 (13 net, 4 wide, 4 deep, 2 fans); Drops 10; Drives 8; Clears 7; Smashes 7; Harding serving errors 4 (3 deep, 1 short)
Xiong: 58: Central hitting errors 23 (16 wide, 3 net, 2 fans, 1 deep, 1 general); Drops 21; Drives 7 (4 regular, 3 change ups); Smashes 4; Clears 2; Central serving errors 1


SINGLES
1. Lee Vue (SPC) def. Mee Xiong 21-16, 15-21, 23-21
2. Stephanie King (H) def Nha Phan 21-18, 21-12
3. Crystal Yang (H) def. Xiong Thao 21-17, 22-20
4. Pahoua Yang (SPC) def. Yer Chang 21-19, 21-11
DOUBLES
1. Dia Xiong/PaNhia Yang (H) def. Tracey Vangh/Xiong Xiong 23-21, 21-9
2. Pa Yang/Nalee Xiong (H) def. Poua Thao/Da Chang 21-17, 16-21, 21-16
3. Chao Xiong/PaNhia Vang (H) def. Ka Yang/Alexis Lor 21-18, 21-15

BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: 2-2 .500
Games: Harding 6-3 .667
Points: Harding 173-168 .507
decided by 10+: Harding 1-0
decided by 2: Central 2-1

DOUBLES
matches: Harding 3-0 1.000
games: Harding 6-1 .857
points: 144-117 .552
decided by 10+: Harding 1-0
decided by 2: Harding 1-0

Next up: tomorrow morning

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.