THAT WAS THEN….

Last week saw another #1 singles fall. This time it was a revenge match with Edina’s Hazel Dang, then #3, going on the road and taking down Kateryna Mykhailovich of Kennedy. There is now a new #1. The #1s in team and doubles did not move an inch. The Hornets have 21 more wins than the second highest team (Roosevelt) in singles and 23 more wins than the second highest team (Johnson) in doubles. Johnson had two narrow 4-3 revenge wins during the week bumping off Como Park and Harding. That means the Governors have moved up a spot in the polls. But Su Meh of Johnson, a former #1, has now lost three in a row at singles. Gaozhia Vue of Harding won in three on Thursday against Meh. Nico Solheid of Como Park beat Meh for the second time this year on Tuesday.

The week started with no contests on Monday because the weather was iffy. That was supposed to be a date when I charted Hiawatha and Prairie Seeds. As a result, I now am at 28 of the 30 schools charted for the year (.933). I have one last opportunity for both this upcoming week.

THIS IS NOW….

This week is Conference tournament week….at least for the city schools. These events help set the stage for the individual state tournament the following week with atmosphere, and length of play. Does it help prepare players? I believe so. The St. Paul city champion is a good indication of who may end up on top in the state. Since 2001 13 St. Paul singles champs went on to win the state title. Examining the last nine champs, six have won the St. Paul City title.

Before those big events, there are a smattering of contests on Monday and Tuesday that may impact the final team seeds (the final individual seeds will take place after the conference tournaments). That means the final team poll will come out on Wednesday morning. Not everyone will be going to team (or individual) state tournament. The TOP SIX TEAMS WILL RECEIVE BYES and will start play on Tuesday, May 13. Teams #7 to #26 will begin play on Monday, May 12. The top four seeds will host on Tuesday. The action then moves to Edina for the final four on Wednesday followed by the individual state on Thursday in the same location. As for the individual tournament….27 schools will take part sending two players each. That brings the total field to 54. Since the format allows 64 the TOP 10 TEAMS WILL BE SENDING THE #3 SINGLES & DOUBLES to the tournament as well.

The important contests left this week include #10 Kennedy & #12 Math & Science on Tuesday; and the Twin City Championship with #13 Roosevelt traveling to #2 Como Park. The EMAC will hold their team playoff on Wednesday. This is not an individual tournament like St. Paul or Minneapolis, but a team event.

COACHES:

The state tournament rosters are due on Thursday, May 8. Right now, we have two that have finalized their rosters. That leaves 25 to go. I will be nagging you until they are all in.

The last official team poll will be on Wednesday, May 7. On that date the matchups for the team portion of the state tournament will be released with opponents and sites. First round will be Monday, May 12.

STANDINGS

SAINT PAUL

SCHOOL	CW	CL	TW	TL	SW	SL	DW	DL
Como Park	10	2	13	3	48	16	28	20
Harding	9	3	10	4	40	30	32	20
Johnson	9	3	9	4	50	20	37	18
Highland Park	6	6	7	7	32	40	33	21
Humboldt	5	7	9	9	43	29	15	39
Washington	3	9	3	12	10	60	22	32
Central	0	12	1	13	18	38	6	36

MINNEAPOLIS

SCHOOL	CW	CL	TW	TL	SW	SL	DW	DL
Roosevelt	12	0	14	3	56	12	36	15
Camden	10	2	11	4	46	14	36	9
North	7	5	7	7	24	32	19	23
Edison	6	5	7	5	23	25	21	15
Southwest	4	8	4	9	19	33	12	27
South	2	9	2	10	8	40	6	30
Washburn	0	12	0	12	9	39	6	30

SUBURBAN

SCHOOL	CW	CL	TW	TL	SW	SL	DW	DL
Edina	10	0	17	0	77	10	60	3
Eden Prairie	6	2	8	3	33	25	23	17
North St. Paul	5	2	9	5	33	23	29	13
Kennedy	6	6	8	6	39	17	17	25
Burnsville	3	7	4	9	17	46	26	22
Park Center	1	2	3	4	10	18	7	14
Minnetonka	0	5	4	5	14	22	11	16
Tartan	0	5	2	8	7	41	13	25
Fridley	0	1	0	3	3	9	2	7

CHARTERS/PRIVATES

SCHOOL	CW	CL	TW	TL	SW	SL	DW	DL
Math & Science	6	0	8	1	26	10	22	5
Community of Peace	6	2	6	5	29	15	17	16
Hmong CPA	5	2	6	4	22	18	17	13
Prairie Seeds	2	4	2	4	8	20	9	12
Hiawatha	1	6	1	7	6	26	4	20
Twin City Academy	0	6	0	7	6	26	2	22
Eagle Ridge	0	0	1	2	5	7	3	6

CW conference wins; CL conference losses
TW total wins; TL total losses
SW singles wins; SL singles losses
DW doubles wins; DL doubles losses

TOP FIVE SINGLES %

1. Edina 77-10 .885
2. Roosevelt 56-12 .824
3. Camden 46-14 .767
4. Como Park 48-16 .750
5. Math & Science 26-10 .722

TOP FIVE DOUBLES %

1. Edina 60-3 .952
2. Math & Science 22-5 .815
3. Camden 36-9 .800
4. Roosevelt 36-15 .706
5. North St. Paul 29-13 .690

TEAM SINGLES WINS

1. Edina 77
2. Roosevelt 56
3. Johnson 50
4. Como Park 48
5. Camden 46

TEAM DOUBLES WINS

1. Edina 60
2. Johnson 37
3. Roosevelt 36
4. Camden 36
5. Highland Park 33

RANKINGS

With schools opting out of the state, the rankings are impacted.

If you add your school’s score and subtract it from 33 you should have an indication of who you may be playing on Monday, May 12. The lower number will be a host that Monday.

TEAM

1. Edina 17-0
2. Como Park 13-3
3. Johnson 9-4
4. Harding 10-4
5. Highland Park 7-7
6. Humboldt 9-9
7. Eden Prairie 8-3
8. North St. Paul 9-5
9. Kennedy 8-6
10. Washington 3-12
11. Central 1-13
12. Math & Science 8-1
13. Roosevelt 14-3
14. Burnsville 4-9
15. Tartan 2-8
16. Hmong CPA 6-4
17. Camden 11-4
18. Minnetonka 4-5
19. Park Center 3-4
20. Mpls North 7-7
21. Edison 7-5
22. Southwest 4-9
23. Mpls South 2-10
24. Hiawatha 1-7
25. Eagle Ridge 1-2
26. Fridley 0-3

Will not be in team state

1. Community of Peace 6-5
2. Prairie Seeds 2-4
3. Twin Cities Academy 0-7
4. Washburn 0-12—will be in individual state

INDIVIDUALS

Another week, another #1 in singles. Hazel Dang of Edina is the third player to be ranked #1 this year. She may not be the last. The narrow gap between the top players can provide many possibilities for a champion to emerge. Dang got a boost by dethroning then #1 Kateryna Mykhailovich of Kennedy Wednesday in two convincing sets. Dang also has the best winning streak going with six straight in singles. Su Meh of Johnson, who has also spent time at the one spot, is still hanging on at number two, but has suffered a trio of recent losses. The margins and gaps are not a mile wide with the top players, probably more than an inch. But, as the saying goes, sports is a game of inches.

With the top 3 singles and doubles coming from the top 10 teams I am adding a list of the top performers by records at those positions for the first time this year.

Margin Calls: Kateryna Mykhailovich of Kennedy still is leading the singles with 8.61. If only considering matches against top 10 players Su Meh of Johnson is in front with 4.43. Doubles still has Edina’s Sanna Coma / Ivy Peterson still tops the list with a double digit 12.26 points per set.

Streaking: Hazel Dang of Edina leads the singles department with six straight wins. Coma & Peterson are doubles leaders with 17 straight.

I have dipped down to 16 spots in the rankings.

SINGLES

1. Hazel Dang, Edina 12-4
2. Su Meh, Johnson 13-2
3. Gao Zhia Vue, Harding 10-6
4. Niko Solheid, Como Park 8-6
5. Lennon Folstad, Central 7-3
6. Nica Johnson, Highland Park 8-8
7. Kateryna Mykhailovich, Kennedy 12-0
8. Gaonou Vang, Johnson2 14-1
9. Morgan Aufdenkamp, Kennedy 7-0
10. Aarushi Bhatnagar, Edina2 14-4
11. Tsuki Solheid, Como Park2 13-1
12. Linda Chang, Harding2 11-5
13. Wah Chri Paw, Humboldt 6-12
14. Isabelle Yang, North St. Paul 7-4
15. Maya Varikuti, Eden Prairie 6-8
16. Miaoting Fang, Burnsville 6-10

The top 3rds by wins

1. Evelyn Ge, Edina 15
2. Harper Franz, Highland Park 9
3. Sandy Moua, Johnson 8

DOUBLES

1. Ivy Peterson / Sanna Coma, Edina 17-0
2. Katie Murray/ Natalie Portwood, Burnsville 13-4
3. Jolena / Claire, North St. Paul 11-3
4. Alice Verbrugge / Violet Solem Valentine, Highland Park 12-6
5. Asta Ket / Gaolee Yang, Como Park 10-6
6. Juman Alkhatib / Bergen Pickett, Edina2 15-2
7. Anastasia Vang / Sammie Yang, Johnson 5-2
8. Alisa Chang / Chaiplia Moua, Harding 10-6
9. Megan Fang / Bao Nhia Moua, Washington 3-4
10. Ella Burke / Daisy Hennington-Hoff, Edina3 16-0
11. Gaohli Chang/ Paige Xiong, Harding2 6-2
12. Shalisha Vang / Krystal Moua Johnson2 13-6
13. Abby Putz / Edi Damiyo, Highland Park2 12-6
14. Annabelle Chan / Clara Rynkiewich, Central 3-4
15. Abi / Ella, Roosevelt 12-2
16. Pajzib / Duashia, North St. Paul2 6-1

The Top 3rds by wins

1. Ella Burke / Daisy Hennington-Hoff, Edina 12
2. Lana Yang / Rose Yang, Como Park 10
3. Kat / Armella, North St. Paul 8