SAINT PAUL CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS
St. Paul wrapped up their two day tournament at Highland Park on Thursday with #1 seeds claiming the top prize. Both #1s are from Johnson, and both were one of the few seeds to survive the Wednesday carnage. Khao Nou Lor in singles and Nou Chee Yang/Bao Nhia Thao in doubles gave the Governors a two for two title. There was going to be a Johnson singles winner no matter what when Star Thao won in the semifinals. On top of that Johnson provided two of the four doubles teams in the semis and three of the four singles in the semis. But wait. One of the three Johnson players in the semis has toiled on JV all year. Pa Nhia Her, the usual #3, was off on a week long trip and that moved up Star Thao. Filling in the #4 singles spot was Eriko Ikeda. She beat a #2, #1 and #2 Wednesday.
Let’s set the scene. All four singles from each school and all three doubles from each school are involved. Contrary to Minneapolis it is one & done—lose and you are finished. Eight seeds are named in singles and doubles. Of the eight seeds in singles, only three made it to the quarterfinals—-a 37.5% rate. Doubles had a much better survival rate with six making it to the quarters (75%). But let’s back up and examine the singles again. Four were slotted right into the Sweet 16 round and only #1 seed (and eventual champion) Khao Nou Lor made it to the quarters.
This is Johnson’s third singles winner (Olamide Fadahunsi won three straight) and fifth overall title. On the doubles side it is the fourth. Now comes the hard part and with all the turmoil on Wednesday it makes the seeding for state more problematic.
In a strange twist, this is the second straight year in singles that two players from the same school met for the title. Last year it was all Central with Yer Moua taking the title.
I will get the semi game I charted (Star Thao vs May Garvey) and the championship stats and stories up later & it will be below the rounds below. Both Semifinal and championship are now posted.
SINGLES
FIRST ROUND
Jansaree Na, Washington def Malee Yang, Central 16-21, 21-8, 21-16
Elisa John, Highland Park def Kaoyer Lee, Humboldt 21-17, 22-20
#8 Jumy Miko, Harding def Mai Lee Yang, Como Park 21-16, 21-7
Be Be Say, Washington def Ki Seng Xiong, Central 21-14, 21-6
Eriko Ikeda, Johnson def Hnubci Vang, Harding 21-11, 21-8
#5 Pa Jai Thao, Highland Park def Ka Bao Xiong, Como Park 21-11, 21-19
Blong Lor, Harding def Lucia Calatayud, Highland Park 14-21, 26-24, 21-10
Taw Bee, Como Park def Alliah Mae Firman, Humboldt 21-16, 18-21, 21-11
Eh Ni Mor, Washington def #7 Kasumi Vang, Johnson 21-10, 18-21, 22-20
Star Thao, Johnson def EE Lee, Highland Park 21-6, 21-11
Bao Vang, Humboldt def Annika Tuma, Central 21-12, 20-22, 21-14
#6 Ka Lia Xiong, Washington def Ester Htoo, Harding 16-21, 21-13, 21-12
SWEET 16
#1 Khao Nou Lor, Johnson def Jansaree Na, Washington 21-9, 21-10
#8 Jumy Miko, Harding def Elisa John, Highland Park 21-15, 22-24, 21-14
Be Be Say, Washington def #4 Htee Moo Chaw, Humboldt 23-21, 21-17
Eriko Ikeda, Johnson def #5 Pa Jai Thao, Highland Park 9-21, 21-17, 21-19
#2 May Garvey, Central def Blong Lor, Harding 21-14, 21-13
Eh Ni Mor, Washington def Taw Bee, Como Park 22-20, 21-12
Star Thao, Johnson def #3 Tu Lor Paw, Como Park 21-19, 8-21, 21-18
Bao Vang, Humboldt def #6 Ka Lia Xiong, Washington 13-21, 21-17, 21-15
QUARTERS
#1 Khao Nou Lor, Johnson def #8 Jumy Miko, Harding 21-13, 21-9
Eriko Ikeda, Johnson def Be Be Say, Washington 23-25, 21-14, 21-10
#2 May Garvey, Central def Eh Ni Mor, Washington 21-18, 21-9
Star Thao, Johnson def Bao Vang, Humboldt 21-11, 21-10
SEMIS
#1 Khao Nou Lor, Johnson def Eriko Ikeda, Johnson 21-5, 21-10
Star Thao, Johnson def #2 May Garvey, Central 21-19, 21-19
CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 Khao Nou Lor, Johnson def Star Thao, Johnson 19-21, 21-5, 21-17
THIRD PLACE
#2 May Garvey, Central def Eriko Ikeda, Johnson 21-11, 21-16
DOUBLES
SWEET 16 ROUND
#1 Nou Chee Yang/Bao Nhia Thao, Johnson def Mariah Aye Meh/Ju Be Lee Thao, Como Park 21-5, 21-5
Julia Yang/Ratsamee Thasaengsiri, Harding def #8 Julia Maw/Eh Say Nay Taw, Humboldt 21-15, 21-8
Lisa Lee/Jialia Vue, Johnson def #4 Yia Yang/Zoua Xiong 22-20, 21-6
#5 Enna Say/Wah Lah Paw, Washington def Jada Brown/Julia Schultz 21-18, 15-21, 2-17
#2 Xiong Vang/Wamee Vang, Central def Nyo Nyo Sein/Pa Shia Vang, Washington 21-13, 21-17
#7 Nou Gee Xiong/Josapheena Thao, Johnson def Subby Vang/Loren Sanchez 21-7, 21-12
#3 Chungai Xiong/Kushel Paw, Harding def Chloe Yang/Karia Chang, Washington 21-14, 21-15
#6 Aicha Minaoui/Azucena Collazo, Highland Park def Wah Bay Htoo/Sar Htoo, Humboldt 26-24, 21-11
QUARTERS
#1 Nou Chee Yang/Bao Nhia Thao, Johnson def Julia Yang/Ratsamee Thasaengsiri, Harding 21-12, 21-17
Lisa Lee/Jialia Vue, Johnson def #5 Enna Say/Wah Lah Paw, Washington 21-10, 21-11
#2 Xiong Vang/Wamee Vang, Central def #7 Nou Gee Xiong/Josapheena Thao, Johnson 21-14, 19-21, 21-15
#3 Chungai Xiong/Kushel Paw, Harding def #6 Aicha Minaoui/Azucena Collazo, Highland Park
SEMIS
#1 Nou Chee Yang/Bao Nhia Thao, Johnson def Lisa Lee/Jialia Vue, Johnson 21-18, 21-14
#2 Xiong Vang/Wamee Vang, Central def #3 Chungai Xiong/Kushel Paw, Harding 21-17, 21-11
CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 Nou Chee Yang/Bao Nhia Thao, Johnson def #2 Xiong Vang/Wamee Vang, Central 21-6, 19-21, 21-14
THIRD PLACE
#3 Chungai Xiong/Kushel Paw, Harding def Lisa Lee/Jialia Vue, Johnson 21-17, 21-16
SEMIFINAL
star THAO 2, may GARVEY 0
(21-19, 21-19)
Star Thao edged out #2 May Garvey by identical 21-19 scores. In the first set Thao had a run of four to go in front 10-7. It looked like Thao was going to close the deal at 19-15, but Garvey rallied for four straight, with the first three winners. A two stroke soft drive stopped the Garvey surge. A five stroke drive ended set one.
Garvey had the first two runs of the second set. The first tooke her out to a 6-4 lead. The second put her up 11-8. Thao responded right away with a run of four, three of which were winners. Just like the first set Garvey rallied for two points to tie it, this time at 18. A smash attempt instead found the net for a Thao point. Thao then got another error point off the serve receive gone wide. A drop put off set point one more time. An 11 stroke back hand shot in the net ended the semis.
| Category | THAO | GARVEY |
| Side out | 12/22-.545 | 10/23-.435 |
| 3+ Runs | 4 | 4 |
| Longest point string | 4 | 4 |
| Service points | 19 | 15 |
| Overall points | 42 | 38 |
| Points after 11 | 23 | 19 |
| WINNERS | 20 | 16 |
| Aces | 3 | 1 |
| Blocks | 0 | 0 |
| Clears | 4 | 3 |
| Drives | 2 | 1 |
| Drops | 1 | 4 |
| Soft drives | 9 | 2 |
| Smashes | 1 | 6 |
| ERRORS | 21 | 22 |
| Deep | 4 | 2 |
| Net | 12 | 9 |
| Wide | 3 | 3 |
| Serve | 0 | 3 |
| W:E Ratio | 0.952 | 0.727 |
| Margin | 2.00 | |
| Set Point % | 2/3-.667 | |
| Time | 12:47.49 |
CHAMPIONSHIP
khao nou LOR 2, star THAO 1
(19-21, 21-5, 21-17)
Khao Nou Lor beat Star Thao in an all Johnson final. Thao, the usual number four singles at Johnson, put Lor on the ropes after a first set win. For the third straight set, Thao squeaked out a 21-19 win. That first set loss was Lor’s only loss in the conference tournament. Lor responded with a dominant second set. After scoring the first three points of the set, she jammed home 11 more on her next service for a prohibitive 14-1 lead. The third set resembled the first with the exception of the Lor win. In the beginning it looked like Thao had righted the ship with the opening three points. Lor came right back with three straight, then added four more on her next service. Both players evolved to a side out rhythm. Lor broke from that method with a run of four to take an 18-13 lead. Thao had a last gasp rally of three to narrow the gap to 18-16. A five stroke hitting error followed by a Lor soft drive left little wiggle room.
Lor piled up more winners with 39, 17 more than her teammate. The biggest differential came on the soft drive (15-5). Lor was close to double digits in clears with nine. Both players were equal in errors.
| Category | LOR | THAO |
| Side out | 15/25-.600 | 11/24-.458 |
| 3+ Runs | 9 | 5 |
| Longest point string | 11 | 6 |
| Service points | 36 | 20 |
| Overall points | 60 | 43 |
| Points after 11 | 32 | 22 |
| WINNERS | 39 | 21 |
| Aces | 1 | 5 |
| Blocks | 0 | 0 |
| Clears | 9 | 2 |
| Drives | 3 | 1 |
| Drops | 6 | 6 |
| Soft drives | 15 | 5 |
| Smashes | 5 | 2 |
| ERRORS | 22 | 22 |
| Deep | 0 | 1 |
| Net | 11 | 15 |
| Wide | 8 | 5 |
| Serve | 3 | 1 |
| W:E Ratio | 1.773 | 0.955 |
| Margin | 5.667 | |
| Set Point % | 2/5-.400 | 1/6-.167 |
| Time | 19:05.05 |