SAINT PAUL CITY TOURNAMENT
Johnson, who tied for the city team title, took the top spot in both singles and doubles Friday afternoon continuing a recent domination in the St. Paul titles. . #1 singles Song Yang and the #1 doubles team of Stacey Vang & Phoo Phyo kept the post-season tradition alive. Johnson has won five of the last six singles titles, and three of the last four doubles trophies.
The doubles victory was an all Governor affair with the #3 doubles team of getting to the final match with a victory over the #2 Johnson doubles team. The #2 Washington doubles was the only school to break up the party. There were four different schools representing in singles. Nag Poe of Como Park ended up as runner up. Host Harding had the third place finisher in Alisia Lemmons. Fourth place went to the only second singles player to get past the Thursday gauntlet: Rain Htoo of Washington. Missing from the singles scene was second ranked HaNeul Jeong-McDonell of Highland Park. She will be able to take part in next week’s state tournament.
I have more details on the singles below. Here are the doubles in historical context: The Johnson pair of Stacy Vang and Phoo Phyo are the sixth Governor duo to win a city title. It is also the fourth time that the finals have been an all Johnson affair. The last contested doubles title in 2019 was also an all Governor match.
How does this translate to state? The St. Paul doubles champs the last ten years have won the state title 40% of the time. The last time a dual champion of city and state came in 2017 with Johnson’s Nou Chee Yang & Bao Nhia Thao. All the recent State champs in doubles have been from St. Paul. The last non-651 area code winners came from Eden Prairie in 2008.
As for the singles the doubling up is somewhat better at 50% the last ten years. The last dual winner also came from Johnson—2018’s Nou Chee Yang—-the doubles winner in 2017. The last non-Capital city winner was fairly recent in 2017 with Bloomington Kennedy’s Chusang Nhasang.
SINGLES
FIRST ROUND
Htoo Say, HU 2 def Camille Dokken, W 4 21-8, 21-12
Kira Braun, C 3 def Elsie Olive HP4 22-20, 24-22
Sheng Xiong, HA 3 def Xee Lee, CP 3 25-27, 22-20, 24-22
Yeng Lai Thao, J 3 def Naw Ka You Paw HU 4 21-8, 21-17
PaNra Lee, CP 2 def Phlower Vang, HP 2 19-21, 21-10, 21-15
Cinderella Nwe, W1 def Lucy Friedl, C 2 21-11, 21-11
Hay Blu Day, HA2 def Sandy Yang, J4 21-19, 15-21, 22-20
Let Let, HU3 def Kaya Solheid, CP 4 21-17, 21-16
Rain Htoo, W2 def Zadie Heitzeg, C1 21-16 21-15
Julie Xiong, J 2 def Kyra Rocha, C4 21-7, 21-6
Kanlaya Thao, HA4 def Sonja Kukkonen, HP3 21-17, 26-24
Lay Lay, HU1 def Yuelia Chagn, W3 18-21, 21-12, 22-20
SWEET 16
Song Yang, J1 def Htoo Say, HU 2 21-14, 21017
Sheng Xiong, HA 3 def Kira Braun, C 3 21-6, 21-12
Alisia Lemmons, HA1 def Yeng Lai Thao, J 3 21-18, 21-13
Cinderella Nwe, W1 def PaNra Lee, CP 2 21-12, 21-19
Hay Blu Day, HA2 def Sunshine Vang, HP1 21-12, 21-17
Rain Htoo, W2 def Let Let, HU3 21-12, 21-9
Nag Poe, CP1 def Julie Xiong, J 2 21-14, 21-12
Lay Lay, HU1 def Kanlaya Thao, HA4 21-14, 21-15
QUARTERFINALS
Song Yang, J1 def Sheng Xiong, HA 3 21-7, 21-7
Alisia Lemmons, HA1 def Cinderella Nwe, W1 21-19, 21-16
Rain Htoo, W2 def Hay Blu Day, HA2 21-18, 23-21
Nag Poe, CP1 def Lay Lay, HU1 21-11, 21-18
SEMIFINALS
Song Yang, J1 def Alisia Lemmons, HA1 21-11, 21-17
Nag Poe, CP1 def Rain Htoo, W2 21-7, 13-21, 21-19
3RD
Alisia Lemmons, HA1 def Rain Htoo, W2 21-15, 21-13
1ST
Song Yang, J1 def Nag Poe, CP1 21-11, 22-20
DOUBLES
FIRST ROUND
Ana Xiong / Kimberly Tobar, HA4 def Pah Wah / Gay Nee Thaw, CP2 21-14, 21-17
Ella Stamer / Isabel Drexler-Booth, C4 def Ellie Boudet / Katia Gercheva, HP 3 21-17, 21-15
Birdy Xiong / Ashley Her, J4 def Jennifer Zou / Tina Son, C2 21-15, 17-21, 21-12
Bao Vang / Joxery Mezen Camacho, HP1 def Bernia Xiong / Shia Mee Lee, HA2 23-21, 16-21, 21-13
Ia Chang / Pang Thao, J3 def Serentiy Soulisak / Ruth Zaw, C3 21-12, 21-9
Blue Moo / Julia Win, HU2 def Isabelle Guiterrez / Lilian Reiter, HA 3 21-13, 21-16
Hser Hser Poh / Lah Sher Wah, CP1 def Ella Alden Pope / Satori Soulisak-Hoang, HP 2 21-16, 21-12
Phoebe Pryor / Josey Lee, W4 def Patshia Lee / Pah Meh, CP 3 21-7, 21-10
Mor Yang / Sandy Vang, J2 def Kler Shee / Yunee Wah, HU3 2 18-21, 21-12, 21-13
SWEET 16
Stacey Vang / Phoo Phyo, J1 def Ana Xiong / Kimberly Tobar, HA4 21-14, 21-8
Cho Cho Oo / Dun Htoo, W3 def Ella Stamer / Isabel Drexler-Booth, C4 21-13, 21-9
Brianna Yang / Seng Hang, W2 def Paw Tha Blay Wah / Tree Saw, HU1 24-22, 21-17
Birdy Xiong / Ashley Her, J4 def Bao Vang / Joxery Mezen Camacho, HP1 21-10, 21-7
Ia Chang / Pang Thao, J3 def Your Paw / Ku Gay Hsat Pho Tha, W1 21-9, 19-21, 21-19
Blue Moo / Julia Win, HU2 def Hser Hser Poh / Lah Sher Wah, CP1 21-17, 16-21, 21-18
Julia Bowron / Emma Clift, C1 def Phoebe Pryor / Josey Lee, W4 19-21, 21-15, 21-17
Mor Yang / Sandy Vang, J2 def Lillian Lee / Kelly Logan, HA1 21-18, 22-20
QUARTERFINALS
Stacey Vang / Phoo Phyo, J1 def Cho Cho Oo / Dun Htoo, W3 21-14, 23-21
Brianna Yang / Seng Hang, W2 def Birdy Xiong / Ashley Her, J4 21-6, 21-18
Ia Chang / Pang Thao, J3 def Blue Moo / Julia Win, HU2 21-14, 21-14
Mor Yang / Sandy Vang, J2 def Julia Bowron / Emma Clift, C1 21-19, 21-12
SEMIFINALS
Stacey Vang / Phoo Phyo, J1 def Brianna Yang / Seng Hang, W2 21-16, 21-12
Ia Chang / Pang Thao, J3 def Mor Yang / Sandy Vang, J2 15-21, 21-14, 21-16
3RD
Brianna Yang / Seng Hang, W2 def Mor Yang / Sandy Vang, J2 10-21, 21-12, 21-19
1ST
Stacey Vang / Phoo Phyo, J1 def Ia Chang / Pang Thao, J3 21-10, 21-13
YANG 2021 CHAMPION
Yang became the 6th Johnson singles player to win the St. Paul event. The Governors have won the City title eight times (Olamide Fadahunsi won three consecutive city titles). Johnson has won the last four contested titles with the 2020 season vacant due to the virus.
As city rivals, these opponents were not unfamiliar. Yang had beat both previously in two sets with almost similar scores. Nag Poe had previously scored 20 in one of her earlier set losses. Lemmons was able to get to 17 today with 16 being her previous best against Yang this year.
There were similarities in Song Yang’s wins over Harding’s Alisia Lemmons and Como’s Nag Poe. In both cases the side out game, scoring off serve, and winners all favored the Governor. Yang was adept at the stamina game winning the longer rallies (five strokes or more) while her opponent took the fast break points (two strokes or less). Yang’s finishing kick was impressive. Combined it was 45-24. Her resilience facing a four point deficit late helped secure the win.
SINGLES SEMIFINALS
Song Yang 2, Alisia Lemmons 0
(20-12, 21-17)
Yang broke free from a six all score in the first set with a run of six followed two services later by her third run of the initial set of four to make the score 17-8. Lemmons held a 13-10 lead in set two before Yang chalked up her first run of three. Part of the issue was Lemmons missed three of four serves in a 6-3 Yang run. Still the set was tied at 16 when Yang got her second run of the second set. That run started after a smash from Yang was returned wide.
| Category | YANG | LEMMONS |
| Side out | 16/21-.762 | 12/21-.571 |
| Longest side out string | 4(3x) | 2(2x) |
| 3+ Runs | 5 | 2 |
| Longest point string | 6 | 4 |
| SERVING | ||
| Service points | 20 | 8 |
| Serving % | 38/41-.927 | 25/29-.862 |
| POINTS | ||
| Overall points | 41 | 29 |
| Points after 11 | 21-12-.636 | 12-21-.364 |
| Points after own errors | 7/10-.700 | 5/16-.313 |
| STROKES | ||
| Strokes | 190 | 112 |
| Strokes per point | 4.634 | 3.862 |
| 5+ rallies | 21-10-.677 | 10-21-.323 |
| 2- rallies | 6-12-.333 | 12-6-.667 |
| WINNERS | 25 | 19 |
| Aces | 1 | 0 |
| Blocks | 2 | 0 |
| Clears | 5 | 1 |
| Drives | 3 | 0 |
| Drops | 3 | 2 |
| Soft drives | 9 | 7 |
| Smashes | 2 | 9 |
| ERRORS | 10 | 16 |
| Deep | 1 | 3 |
| Net | 3 | 4 |
| Wide | 3 | 5 |
| Serve | 3 | 4 |
| W:E Ratio | 2.50 | 1.188 |
| Margin | 6.00 | |
| Set Point % | 2/5-.400 | |
| Time | 18:42 |
SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP
Song Yang 2, Nag Poe 1
(21-11, 22-20)
Yang was able to squeeze at least one point off serve in the first set seven out of nine times. Her runs did not occur until later in the set. She closed with a 10-3 finish. There was more heroics in the final set. And they were needed. Yang was staring at a 19-15 deficit after a Poe run of three made it 19-15. Yang pulled the set from the fire with a key run of five which included a 13 stroke drop on the second of the five points. Poe staved off one match point thanks to a Yang error, but Yang bounced right back with a five stroke smash and ended the match with a three stroke drive.
| Category | YANG | POE |
| Side out | 12/19-.632 | 7/21-.333 |
| Longest side out string | 7 | 2 |
| 3+ Runs | 4 | 3 |
| Longest point string | 6 | 5 |
| SERVING | ||
| Service points | 24 | 12 |
| Serving % | 39/43-.907 | 31/31-1.000 |
| POINTS | ||
| Overall points | 43 | 31 |
| Points after 11 | 24-12-.667 | 12-24-.333 |
| Points after own errors | 9/15-.600 | 7/20-.350 |
| STROKES | ||
| Strokes | 198 | 115 |
| Strokes per point | 4.605 | 3.710 |
| 5+ rallies | 20-11-.645 | 11-20-.355 |
| 2- rallies | 11-14-.440 | 14-11-.560 |
| WINNERS | 23 | 16 |
| Aces | 0 | 0 |
| Blocks | 1 | 1 |
| Clears | 7 | 3 |
| Drives | 4 | 4 |
| Drops | 3 | 2 |
| Soft drives | 2 | 2 |
| Smashes | 6 | 4 |
| ERRORS | 15 | 20 |
| Deep | 1 | 3 |
| Net | 7 | 8 |
| Wide | 3 | 9 |
| Serve | 4 | 0 |
| W:E Ratio | 1.533 | 0.800 |
| Margin | 6.000 | |
| Set Point % | 2/3-.667 | |
| Time | 20:39 |