JOHNSON 6, WASHINGTON 1
The two finalists in the 2022 state tournament met at Washington on Tuesday afternoon and the Governors prevailed 6-1 over the Eagles. The last time the two met it was a 4-3 win for Johnson. Washington’s third doubles team of Say Paw & Gay Ler Htoo prevented an outright sweep. That match, along with first singles were the only two that went the three set distance. And in a strange similarity, the winners in both lost the first set and won the next two including the final set exactly the same score of 22-20.
Johnson, despite not winning at third doubles, nevertheless had a stronger showing in those matches with a margin that was 2.3 points better than their singles collection margin.
SINGLES
1. Sandy Vang, J def Britney Lao 18-21, 21-16, 22-20
2. Ashley Her, J def Ariel Fang 21-14, 21-17
3. May Xiong, J def Nancy Hang 21-13, 21-12
4. Savanna Yang, J def Bao Nhia Moua 21-9, 21-13
DOUBLES
1. Birdy Xiong / Alexis Xiong, J def Puja Gurung / La Joe Paw 21-8, 21-6
2. Faith Moua / Lena Nguyen, J def Ma K Moo / Eh Ku Paw 21-9, 21-12
3. Say Paw / Gay Ler Htoo, W def Dao Sangwang / Ruth Thaw Gyi 17-21, 21-17, 22-20
BY THE NUMBERS
SINGLES
Matches: Johnson 4-0 1.000
Games: Johnson 8-1 .889
points: Johnson 166-126 .568
Set 1 points: Johnson 81-57 .587
Set 2 points: Johnson 84-58 .592
Set 3 points: Johnson 22-20 .524
decided by 10+: none
decided by 3-: split 1-1 .500
margin: Johnson 4.444
DOUBLES
Matches: Johnson 2-1 .667
Games: Johnson 5-2 .714
points: Johnson 142-95 .599
Set 1 points: Johnson 63-34 .649
Set 2 points: Johnson 59-39 .602
Set 3 points: Johnson 22-20 .524
decided by 10+: Johnson 3-0 1.000
decided by 3-: Washington 2-0 1.000
margin: Johnson 6.714
FIRST SINGLES
SANDY VANG 2, BRITNEY LAO 1 (18-19, 21-16, 22-20)
Johnson’s Sandy Vang battled back twice to drop Britney Lao in three sets, the final going to extra points. Any player that led at 11 failed to win the set. And Lao’s side out game, which led the stat table, was not enough to put her over the top. One reason could be the service game. Lao missed six on the day, but three came in the final set—two were consecutive (service three and four). Her last service error came with her leading 13-10. In the final frame it was Vang that stretched two runs. The first came with five points capped by an ace/fan at 5-1. Lao went on a 13-6 run to build her lead to 14-11. Vang’s next run of five put her back in the driver’s seat at 16-14. Lao was able to tie it at 17 and then each player traded side outs seven straight times. Vang broke the string with the final point, on a two stroke error in the net by Lao.
The first set saw a counting error. That is why you see Lao winning 19-18. Somewhere around the ninth point the slip up occurred. Vang, by my count, was up 13-10. Lao, who only had four errors in that set, had her second run of three to put her up 19-18 and that is where it stopped. Vang in the second set had the first run and the first lead at 4-1. Lao turned the tables and went in front 11-9 on the strength of a 10-5 run. Vang righted the ship with four straight and did not trail again in that set.
Vang had the advantage on winners 35-25 with a solid variety of shots. On an individual shot basis her smashes out paced Lao 8-1. Lao’s shot advantage was 8-6 in soft drives, but at a cost. Both players were close in errors, with the net looming large for both. Lao’s net errors tended to be the soft drive that did not get over; Vang’s tended to be of the power variety on misplaced slams.
| Category | VANG | LAO |
| Side out | 21/36-.583 | 23/36-.639 |
| Longest side out string | 4 | 6(x2) |
| 3+ Runs | 7 | 6 |
| Longest point string | 5(x2) | 4 |
| SERVING | 60 | 56 |
| Service points | 26 | 21 |
| Serving % | .950 | .893 |
| Point generated off serve | .433 | .375 |
| POINTS | 61 | 55 |
| Points after 11 | 32 | 23 |
| Points after own errors | 17 | 15 |
| STROKES | 219 | 202 |
| Strokes per point | 3.59 | 3.67 |
| 5+ rallies | 12 | 17 |
| 2- rallies | 24 | 21 |
| WINNERS | 35 | 25 |
| Aces | 1 | 0 |
| Blocks | 1 | 1 |
| Clears | 6 | 3 |
| Drives | 9 | 9 |
| Drops | 4 | 3 |
| Soft drives | 6 | 8 |
| Smashes | 8 | 1 |
| ERRORS | 30 | 26 |
| Deep | 6 | 0 |
| Net | 12 | 13 |
| Wide | 9 | 7 |
| Serve | 3 | 6 |
| Largest Lead | 5 | 3 |
| W:E Ratio | 1.17 | 0.96 |
| Margin | 2.00 | |
| Set Point % | 2/3-.667 | 1/1-1.000 |
| Time | 24:49 |