EMAC TOURNAMENT

The first of the conference tournaments got an early jump on tournament season with the EMAC team tournament. Minneapolis and St. Paul will hold their tournaments May 6 and 7. They are individual based. The EMAC has five teams officially in their lineup. The other charter schools (Math & Science, Eagle Ridge, and Community School of Excellence) are not members. M&S used to be in the EMAC, but are now in the MCAA conference. The Dragons were usually the champion in the past of this tournament. Today the torch was passed to Community of Peace Academy. And it capped a strong week for the Tigers. COPA opened the week with a 4-3 victory at M&S, so topping a past champ and wearing the crown now.

Early on Hiawatha Collegiate picked up their first win in seven tries with a 4-3 squeaker over Twin Cities Academy. That was the battle of #4 and #5. COPA was seeded #1. Host Hmong College Prep lost to Prairie Seeds by the same 4-3 score. In both situations the losing team won the first three singles, while the winning team took the doubles plus fourth singles.

COPA blitzed HC in the semis with a sweep. Eight of the 14 sets the Wolfpack was held to single digits.

That set up the title bout between PS and COPA. I charted that regular season match at PS a few Mondays ago. Then #1 singles Phoenix Yang was unable to play. Today she was present. She was a stiffer opponent for Jenny Lee of COPA. Lee topped Tiffany in the semis 21-2, 21-2 (reported) with 17 winners in the first set and 20 winners in the second (where I had the final 25-1). Of those 37 combined winners 22 were via the smash. Of those 22 smashes 18 were on the three stroke. It would go something like this: Serve, lift high to the middle; laser beams to the shoes on a smash.

It was not that way in the final match up with Phoenix Yang. Lee continued to pile up winners, but Yang was able to limit severe damage. Lee had 16 winners in the first set, and another 16 in the second. But the smash totals dropped. Lee provided seven across both sets with a majority coming on the two stroke. Lee was able to showcase a variety of other winners keeping Yang off balance. Yang, for her part had eight total winners. She did keep the bird down for the most part preventing juicy smashes.

Lee is one of two #1 singles left in the state without a loss. Her record is now 9-0 for the season. Mollie Anderson of Roosevelt is the other. Anderson will be tested on Friday when #2 Johnson comes to visit.

COPA is 8-1 overall this year.

PIG TAIL

HIAWATHA COLLEGIATE 4, TWIN CITIES ACADEMY 3

SINGLES

1 Belinda, TCA def Bri 21-10, 21-15

2 Morgan, TCA def Kiana  21-19, 21-13

3 Xingying, TCA def Tiffany 21-9, 21-16

4 Alondra, HC def Lindsay 22-20, 22-20

DOUBLES

1 Carmen / Itzel, HC def Krystal / Yisha 21-7, 21-14

2 Yohana / Shayla, HC def Momo / Sher 23-21, 21-14

3 Kely / Morgan, HC def Gabby / Lily 21-14, 21-15

SEMIFINALS

PRAIRIE SEEDS 4, HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY 3

SINGLES

1 Cody, HCPA def Phoenix Yang 18-21, 21-6, 21-11

2 Chelsea, HCPA def Diana Moua 21-16, 21-17

3 Tulore, HCPA def Alyssa Yang 16-21, 21-11, 21-12

4 Joslyn Yang, PS def Sorinn 15-21, 21-12, 21-16

DOUBLES

1 Maddie Her / Kafoua Yang, PS def Ana / Evelyn 21-12, 20-22, 21-12

2 Pearl Thao / Jasmine Yang, PS def Stema / Korina 21-18, 21-13

3 Hahli Lee / Tasuna Thao, PS def Jelenea / Jary 21-16, 14-21, 21-19

COMMUNITY OF PEACE  7, HIAWATHA COLLEGIATE 0

SINGLES

1 Jenny, COPA def Tiffany 21-2, 21-2

2 Alondra, COPA def Alondra 21-5, 21-2

3 Chelsey, COPA def Carmen 21-9, 21-12

4 Bell, COPA def Bri 21-12, 21-15

DOUBLES

1 Kuri / Noemi, COPA def Kiana / Itzel 21-17, 21-9

2 Selena / Rachel, COPA def Yohana / Shayla 21-11, 21-9

3 Ryoko / Nyobe, COPA def Kely / Morgan 21-8, 21-10

COMMUNITY OF PEACE 5, PRAIRIE SEEDS 2

SINGLES

1 Jenny, COPA def Phoenix Yang 21-9, 21-9

2 Alondra, COPA def Diana Moua 21-15, 21-19

3 Chelsey, COPA def Alyssa Yang 21-10, 21-7

4 Bell, COPA def Josyln Yang 21-13, 21-12

DOUBLES

1 Maddie Her / Kafoua Yang, PS def Kuri / Noemi 21-15, 21-15

2 Pearl Thao / Jasmine Yang, PS def Selena / Rachel 17-21, 21-11, 24-22

3 Ryoko / Nyobe, COPA def Hahli Lee / Tasuna Thao 21-10, 21-11