JOHNSON 5, HARDING 2
Johnson stopped Harding 5-2 with a revamped lineup on Wednesday. Missing in the contest was Johnson’s number one Yeng Lai Thao. As a result of the absence the line up was altered. Moving up from second singles was Nicharee Lee. She pushed current #1 ranked Kanlaya Thao to three sets. Stepping over from doubles was Ashley Her to the second singles spot. Birdy Xiong’s new partner today at first doubles was Alexis Xiong, usually at third doubles. That did not stop the Johnson first doubles team, the current #1 ranked team in the state from a two set win. Vanessa Vang at third doubles had a new partner with May Xiong. The Governors swept the doubles and took the last two singles to put together their victory. Johnson had larger margins in doubles and did not lose a set there. The only three setter of the day came at first singles—see below. There were three sets that were decided by three points or less, all in the first two singles contests.
SINGLES
1. Kanlaya Thao, H def Nicharee Lee 21-16, 14-21, 21-19
2. Lilian Lee, H def Ashley Her 21-19, 21-18
3. Sandy Vang, J def Christina Chang 21-10, 21-10
4. Victoria Yang, J def Mai C. Lee 21-10, 21-8
DOUBLES
1. Alexis Xiong / Birdy Xiong, J def Kimberly Tobar / Ana Xiong 21-8, 21-13
2. Hope Moua / Faith Moua, J def Shia Mee Lee / Paw Soe 21-9, 21-16
3. Vanessa Vang / May Xiong, J def Lilian Reiter / Isabella Gutierez 21-15, 21-15
BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Johnson 2-2 .500
Games: Johnson 5-4 .556
points: Johnson 177-136 .565
Set 1 points: Johnson 77-62 .554
Set 2 points: Johnson 81-53 .604
Set 3 points: Harding 21-19 .525
decided by 10+: Johnson 4-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Harding 3-0 1.000
margin: Johnson 4.556
DOUBLES
Matches: Johnson 3-0 1.000
Games: Johnson 6-0 1.000
points: Johnson 126-76 .624
Set 1 points: Johnson 63-32 .663
Set 2 points: Johnson 63-44 .589
decided by 10+: Johnson 2-0 1.000
decided by 3-: none
margin: Johnson 8.333
FIRST SINGLES
Kanlaya THAO 2, Nicharee LEE 0
(21-16, 14-21, 21-19)
#1 singles Kanlaya Thao of Harding now sits with a dozen wins on the year after beating Nicharee Lee of Johnson. Lee, Johnson’s normal number two singles player, was filling in for Yeng Lai Thao, out with an illness. In Thao’s twelve wins this year she has only had to go to three sets twice. In both cases the opponent was a Governor. Today’s match proved to be the closest call for Thao yet (not counting the unfinished win over Highland Park’s HaNeul Jeong-McDonell). The point differential (according to my tally) was Thao up one point after three grueling sets which lasted just shy of a half hour. Fatigue was a factor as the match went on. Both players had over ten errors alone in the third set. Here is the error count: Thao 8-7-12 and Lee 6-5-11. Lee had as many errors in the third set as in the first two sets combined. Thao was three off a combined total.
In set one Thao grabbed the initiative early with a run of three putting her up 4-1. She tacked on her second run of three in her next service and continued to score off her serve the two following services. Meanwhile Thao held Lee in check with four straight side outs. After Thao’s third and final run of that set she was up 13-5. Lee regained her equilibrium and played even, closing at 11-10 after Thao reached 11. Lee held off set point four times (all on Thao errors) before a wide shot ended the set.
The shoe was on the other foot to start the second set. Lee, with her late surge, started off with the first run which came on her second service to establish the early lead 5-2. Thao battled back with a run of three initiated with two clears. An ace tied the set at 10. Lee broke free from the 11 all tie with the longest run by either player in the entire match with seven straight points. Her smash game kicked in with four of those points in that run. Her twentieth point was a dramatic soft drive that clipped the net to Thao’s left front corner. The longest point of the match followed with a exhausting 17 stroke smash by Lee.
Again Lee rode the late momentum to an early 4-0 lead. But there was a shift. The points were now coming on errors. Of Lee’s first eight points, seven were gift wrapped by Thao on errors. That 8-1 advantage melted away with a six point run by Thao with Lee returning the favor with five of those points errors. At the turn Lee led 11-10. Thao took her first lead in the third set with two points. Lee’s last lead came at 15-14. There was a question at this point, I am sure on the score. When the dust settled Thao flipped the set with a 7-3 finishing kick. Thao did not allow Lee to score on serve her last four services.
| Category | THAO | LEE |
| Side out | 22/33-.667 | 15/31-.484 |
| Longest side out string | 4 | 3 |
| 3+ Runs | 6 | 5 |
| Longest point string | 6 | 7 |
| SERVING | ||
| Service points | 26 | 24 |
| Serving % | 55/57-.965 | 55/56-.982 |
| Point generated off serve | .456 | .429 |
| POINTS | 57 | 56 |
| Points after 11 | 27 | 28 |
| Points after own errors | 13 | 9 |
| Winners after own errors | 8 | 5 |
| STROKES | 251 | 229 |
| Strokes per point | 3.310 | 3.782 |
| 5+ rallies | 24 | 16 |
| 2- rallies | 23 | 19 |
| WINNERS | 35 | 29 |
| Aces | 2 | 0 |
| Blocks | 0 | 0 |
| Clears | 10 | 3 |
| Drives | 5 | 6 |
| Drops | 3 | 1 |
| Soft drives | 6 | 10 |
| Smashes | 9 | 9 |
| ERRORS | 27 | 22 |
| Deep | 7 | 2 |
| Fan | 0 | 1 |
| Net | 10 | 10 |
| Wide | 8 | 8 |
| Serve | 2 | 1 |
| Largest Lead | 7 | 8 |
| W:E Ratio | 1.296 | 1.318 |
| Margin | 0.00 | |
| Set Point % | 2/7-.286 | 1/1-1.000 |
| Time | 29:11 |