EDINA INVITATIONAL
The twelfth annual Edina Invitational wrapped up Tuesday night. The event featured eight squads and got underway at 5:15. Three and a half hours later the Hornets claimed the title in narrow battle with Johnson. Only two points separated the two teams.
Edina won at 4th singles; 3rd doubles; 3rd singles; 1st doubles
Johnson won at 2nd doubles; 2nd singles; 1st singles
This is a dry run for the individual portion of the state tournament. There are differences. At state all teams are in the mix. Today was limited to eight teams. At state first and second singles and doubles are involved. Today was the state tournament for third and fourth singles and doubles.
Another feature of today’s event was the double elimination format. At state it will be lose and your season is over. At second doubles Johnson’s pair worked their way back to the top. They originally lost to Highland Park in the semis, and needed five more matches (thereby playing seven for the day). They also played Harding twice, but it was the Knights that fell both times. There was one other double-back contest and that was at fourth singles where Edina’s seventh grader Ariana bounced back to take down Amanda Her. It was their third meeting of the day. Ariana won the first championship match. Her worked her way back to take the second championship forcing the third meeting.
What is valuable for these teams was the pacing. Now they understand the requirements and turnarounds needed. The prep leading up to the tournament should begin now with the right sleep patterns and dietary intake. Another takeaway for the players are understanding opponents. We are only two weeks into the season, but the set up for the next eight weeks promises to be interesting.
Team scoring: 8 points for first; 6 for second; 4 for third; 3 for loser in third playback, two for loser in second playback.
EDINA INVITATIONAL (TEAM)
Edina 45
Johnson 43
Harding 28
Highland Park 22
Burnsville 12
Eden Prairie 12
Washington 10
Tartan 3
FOURTH SINGLES
QUARTERFINALS
Ceferina Xiong, Washington def Justina Than, Highland Park 21-10, retired
Amanda Her, Johnson def Briana Cruz, Tartan 21-1, 21-9
Aashana Dhriti, Eden Prairie def Yolanda Presteguin Guadarrama, Burnsville 21-6, 21-8
Ariana Yang, Edina def Paige Xiong, Harding 21-5, 21-8
SEMIFINALS
Amanda Her, Johnson def Ceferina Xiong, Washington 21-10, 21-8
Ariana Yang, Edina def Aashana Dhriti, Eden Prairie 21-18, 21-11
PLAYBACK ONE
Birtukuan Aregawi, Highland Park def Briana Cruz, Tartan 21-18, 21-12
Paige Xiong, Harding def Yolanda Presteguin Guadarrama, Burnsville 21-3, 21-12
PLAYBACK TWO
Birtukuan Aregawi, Highland Park def Aashana Dhriti, Eden Prairie 21-15, 21-8
Paige Xiong, Harding def Ceferina Xiong, Washington 21-16, 21-18
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
Ariana Yang, Edina def Amanda Her, Johnson 21-15, 21-14
PLAYBACK THREE
Paige Xiong, Harding def Birtukuan Aregawi, Highland Park 21-15, 21-17
PLAYBACK FOUR
Amanda Her, Johnson def Paige Xiong, Harding 23-21, 21-15
CHAMPIONSHIP TWO
Amanda Her, Johnson def Ariana Yang, Edina 21-19, 21-12
CHAMPIONSHIP THREE
Ariana Yang, Edina def Amanda Her, Johnson 21-14, 20-3 retired
THIRD: Paige Xiong, Harding
SECOND: Amanda Her, Johnson
FIRST: Ariana Yang, Edina
THIRD DOUBLES
QUARTERFINALS
Viviane Yang / Naw Clay, Tartan def Akshaya Balamurali / Thanvi Chada, Eden Prairie 21-12, 21-19
Aliya Vang / Kab Nag Yang, Johnson def Kelly Yang / Chiashe Moua, Harding 21-14, 22-20
Ella Burke/ Daisy Hennington-Hoff, Edina def Jadali Kuch / Viollet Ruano, Burnsville 21-11, 21-11
Natalia Gercheva / Lar Shay Paw, Highland Park def Alexis Lee / Kayla Yang, Washington 18-21, 21-17, 25-23
SEMIFINALS
Aliya Vang / Kab Nag Yang, Johnson def Viviane Yang / Naw Clay, Tartan 21-14, 21-9
Ella Burke/ Daisy Hennington-Hoff, Edina def Natalia Gercheva / Lar Shay Paw, Highland Park 21-8, 21-6
PLAYBACK ONE
Kelly Yang / Chiashe Moua, Harding def Akshaya Balamurali / Thanvi Chada, Eden Prairie 19-21, 21-15, 21-15
Alexis Lee / Kayla Yang, Washington def Jadali Kuch / Viollet Ruano, Burnsville 21-16, 21-16
PLAYBACK TWO
Kelly Yang / Chiashe Moua, Harding def Natalia Gercheva / Lar Shay Paw, Highland Park 21-18, 21-15
Viviane Yang / Naw Clay, Tartan def Alexis Lee / Kayla Yang, Washington 21-18, 21-19
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
Ella Burke/ Daisy Hennington-Hoff, Edina def Aliya Vang / Kab Nag Yang, Johnson 21-14, 21-15
PLAYBACK THREE
Kelly Yang / Chiashe Moua, Harding def Viviane Yang / Naw Clay, Tartan 21-19, 21-15
PLAYBACK FOUR
Aliya Vang / Kab Nag Yang, Johnson def Kelly Yang / Chiashe Moua, Harding 21-16, 21-19
CHAMPIONSHIP TWO
Ella Burke/ Daisy Hennington-Hoff, Edina def Aliya Vang / Kab Nag Yang, Johnson 21-10, 21-8
THIRD: Kelly Yang / Chiashe Moua, Harding
SECOND: Aliya Vang / Kab Nag Yang, Johnson
FIRST: Ella Burke/ Daisy Hennington-Hoff, Edina
THIRD SINGLES
QUARTERFINALS
Harper Franz, Highland Park def Nhia Vang, Washington 21-9, 21-18
Evelyn Ge, Edina def Tiffany Tran, Harding 21-16, 21-18
Vivian Nguyen, Eden Prairie def Ya-Yua Vang, Tartan 21-6, 21-6
Sandy Moua, Johnson def Shahnaz Gutierrez, Burnsville 21-7, 21-14
SEMIFINALS
Evelyn Ge, Edina def Harper Franz, Highland Park 21-14, 21-8
Sandy Moua, Johnson def Vivian Nguyen, Eden Prairie 21-15, 17-21, 21-18
PLAYBACK ONE
Tiffany Tran, Harding def Nhia Vang, Washington 21-12, 21-8
Shahnaz Gutierrez, Burnsville def Ya-Yua Vang, Tartan 21-19, 21-14
PLAYBACK TWO
Vivian Nguyen, Eden Prairie def Tiffany Tran, Harding 21-15, 22-24, 21-12
Harper Franz, Highland Park def Shahnaz Gutierrez, Burnsville 21-11, 21-8
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
Evelyn Ge, Edina def Sandy Moua, Johnson 21-18, 21-15
PLAYBACK THREE
Vivian Nguyen, Eden Prairie def Harper Franz, Highland Park 21-12, 21-17
PLAYBACK FOUR
Vivian Nguyen, Eden Prairie def Sandy Moua, Johnson 19-21, 22-20, 21-19
CHAMPIONSHIP TWO
Evelyn Ge, Edina def Vivian Nguyen, Eden Prairie 21-15, 21-18
THIRD: Sandy Moua, Johnson
SECOND: Vivian Nguyen, Eden Prairie
FIRST: Evelyn, Edina
SECOND DOUBLES
QUARTERFINALS
Bergan Pickett/ Juman Alkhatib, Edina def Rosemarie Lund / Grace Aguilar, Burnsville 21-6, 21-13
Alisa Chang / Chaiplia Moua, Harding def Alexa Bernardy / Ashtyn Bernardy, Eden Prairie 11-21, 21-19, 21-19
Shalisha Vang / Krystal Moua, Johnson def Angel Lee / Evylynn Yang, Tartan 21-12, 21-8
Abby Putz / Edi Damiyo, Highland Park def Rashmi Gurung / Nulen Lee, Washington 21-17, 17-21, 21-8
SEMIFINALS
Alisa Chang / Chaiplia Moua, Harding def Bergan Pickett/ Juman Alkhatib, Edina 10-21, 23-21, 21-15
Abby Putz / Edi Damiyo, Highland Park def Shalisha Vang / Krystal Moua, Johnson 21-19, 24-22
PLAYBACK ONE
Alexa Bernardy / Ashtyn Bernardy, Eden Prairie def Rosemarie Lund / Grace Aguilar, Burnsville 21-13, 19-21, 21-14
Rashmi Gurung / Nulen Lee, Washington def Angel Lee / Evylynn Yang, Tartan 21-14, 21-17
PLAYBACK TWO
Shalisha Vang / Krystal Moua, Johnson def Alexa Bernardy / Ashtyn Bernardy, Eden Prairie 21-8, 21-13
Bergan Pickett/ Juman Alkhatib, Edina def Rashmi Gurung / Nulen Lee, Washington 21-8, 21-10
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
Alisa Chang / Chaiplia Moua, Harding def Abby Putz / Edi Damiyo, Highland Park 19-21, 21-11, 21-15
PLAYBACK THREE
Shalisha Vang / Krystal Moua, Johnson def Bergan Pickett/ Juman Alkhatib, Edina 23-21, 15-21, 21-17
PLAYBACK FOUR
Shalisha Vang / Krystal Moua, Johnson def Abby Putz / Edi Damiyo, Highland Park 21-13, 21-11
CHAMPIONSHIP TWO
Shalisha Vang / Krystal Moua, Johnson def Alisa Chang / Chaiplia Moua, Harding 21-13, 21-15
CHAMPIONSHIP THREE
Shalisha Vang / Krystal Moua, Johnson def Alisa Chang / Chaiplia Moua, Harding 21-17, 21-12
THIRD: Abby Putz / Edi Damiyo, Highland Park
SECOND: Alisa Chang / Chaiplia Moua, Harding
FIRST: Shalisha Vang / Krystal Moua, Johnson
SECOND SINGLES
QUARTERFINALS
Gao Nou Vang, Johnson def Wei Wei Chen, Eden Prairie 21-14, 21-11
Houahna Yang, Highland Park def Aarushi Bhatnagar, Edina 21-18, 10-21, 21-18
Linda Chang, Harding def Lavender Moua, Tartan 21-6, 21-7
Jihan Mahamed, Burnsville def Melanie Xiong, Washington 21-18, 21-16
SEMIFINALS
Gao Nou Vang, Johnson def Houahna Yang, Highland Park 21-9, 21-12
Linda Chang, Harding def Jihan Mahamed, Burnsville 21-8, 21-6
PLAYBACK ONE
Aarushi Bhatnagar, Edina def Wei Wei Chen, Eden Prairie 21-6, 21-12
Melanie Xiong, Washington def Lavender Moua, Tartan 21-19, 21-9
PLAYBACK TWO
Aarushi Bhatnagar, Edina def Jihan Mahamed, Burnsville 21-10, 21-8
Houahna Yang, Highland Park def Melanie Xiong, Washington 21-13, 21-167
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
Gao Nou Vang, Johnson def Linda Chang, Harding 21-19, 21-15
PLAYBACK THREE
Aarushi Bhatnagar, Edina def Houahna Yang, Highland Park 21-16, 21-19
PLAYBACK FOUR
Linda Chang, Harding def Aarushi Bhatnagar, Edina 21-19, 21-15
CHAMPIONSHIP TWO
Gao Nou Vang, Johnson def Linda Chang, Harding 21-16, 21-10
THIRD: Aarushi Bhatnagar, Edina
SECOND: Linda Chang, Harding
FIRST: Gao Nou Vang, Johnson
FIRST DOUBLES
QUARTERFINALS
Megan Fang/ Samira Khalif, Washington def Abygail Yang / Peurl Her, Tartan 21-11, 21-13
Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, Burnsville def Anastasia Vang / Kab Noog Yang, Johnson 21-16, 21-18
Nay Gray / Gaohli Chang, Harding def Shreya Juneja / Ais Balakrishna, Eden Prairie 13-21, 21-14, 21-16
Ivy Peterson/ Sanna Coma, Edina def Alice Verbugge / Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park 21-12, 21-7
SEMIFINALS
Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, Burnsville def Megan Fang/ Samira Khalif, Washington 21-12, 21-8
Ivy Peterson/ Sanna Coma, Edina def Nay Gray / Gaohli Chang, Harding 21-15, 21-12
PLAYBACK ONE
Anastasia Vang / Kab Noog Yang, Johnson def Abygail Yang / Peurl Her, Tartan 21-11, 21-11
Alice Verbugge / Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park def Shreya Juneja / Ais Balakrishna, Eden Prairie 18-21, 21-11, 21-6
PLAYBACK TWO
Anastasia Vang / Kab Noog Yang, Johnson def Nay Gray / Gaohli Chang, Harding 21-14, 21-18
Alice Verbugge / Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park def Megan Fang/ Samira Khalif, Washington 21-14, 21-14
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
Ivy Peterson/ Sanna Coma, Edina def Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, Burnsville 21-10, 21-11
PLAYBACK THREE
Alice Verbugge / Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park def Anastasia Vang / Kab Noog Yang, Johnson 18-21, 21-16, 22-20
PLAYBACK FOUR
Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, Burnsville def Alice Verbugge / Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park 18-21, 21-17, 21-16
CHAMPIONSHIP TWO
Ivy Peterson/ Sanna Coma, Edina def Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, Burnsville 21-6, 21-2
CHAMPIONSHIP THREE
THIRD: Alice Verbugge / Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park
SECOND: Katie Murray / Natalie Portwood, Burnsville
FIRST: Ivy Peterson/ Sanna Coma, Edina
FIRST SINGLES
QUARTERFINALS
Hazel Dang, Edina def Bao Nhia Moua, Washington 21-2, 21-16
Maya Varikuti, Eden Prairie def Miaoting Fang, Burnsville 21-18, 19-21, 21-16
Su Meh, Johnson def Nica Johnson, Highland Park 25-23, 21-10
Gaozhia Vue, Harding def Sebrina Xiong, Tartan 21-10, 21-12
SEMIFINALS
Hazel Dang, Edina def Maya Varikuti, Eden Prairie 21-10, 23-21
Su Meh, Johnson def Gaozhia Vue, Harding 21-14, 24-26, 21-13
PLAYBACK ONE
Miaoting Fang, Burnsville def Bao Nhia Moua, Washington 21-19, 21-16
Nica Johnson, Highland Park def Sebrina Xiong, Tartan 20-22, 21-15, 21-14
PLAYBACK TWO
Gaozhia Vue, Harding def Miaoting Fang, Burnsville 21-18, 21-15
Nica Johnson, Highland Park def Maya Varikuti, Eden Prairie forfeit
FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
Su Meh, Johnson def Hazel Dang, Edina 21-15, 21-11
PLAYBACK THREE
Gaozhia Vue, Harding def Nica Johnson, Highland Park 21-19, 21-15
PLAYBACK FOUR
Hazel Dang, Edina def Gaozhia Vue, Harding 21-15, 19-21, 25-23
CHAMPIONSHIP TWO
Su Meh, Johnson def Hazel Dang, Edina 21-17, 15-21, 21-16
THIRD: Gaozhia Vue, Harding
SECOND: Hazel Dang, Edina
FIRST: Su Meh, Johnson