SAN FRANCISCO AT MOUNTAIN VIEW-FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2007

By Mark Johnson

The Mountain View Marauders hosted the San Francisco Furies in an important match for both teams.  The Marauders were looking to improve their seeding in the playoffs while the Furies were just trying to improve their chances of getting there. The Marauders used yet another brand new lineup with Sean Lee, Atha Fong, and Wilson Tsao defending its turf against Spencer Chase, Vincent Tai, and --- the newest member of the Furies --- Misha Kazantsev.

Spencer Chase (San Francisco) vs. Wilson Tsao (Mountain View)

Spencer controlled the opening singles match leading comfortably at 8-4 in each game before eventually winning them to take this match in three straight games 11-8, 11-7, and 11-8 and give the Furies a 1-0 lead in the tie.

Misha Kazantsev (San Francisco) vs. Sean Lee (Mountain View)

This was the big match of this tie with the former USA Junior Boys team member, Misha Kazantsev, facing the former USA Cadet Boys team member and aspiring USA Junior Boys member, Sean Lee.  Sean was able to get out to an early lead at 5-3 in the first game before Misha was able to come back and win it 11-8 --- despite two service misses!  In the second game, Misha got ahead early at 2-0 but Sean responded by winning the next six points to lead 6-2 and the players traded points from that point on with Sean eventually winning the game 11-7.  Sean maintained the momentum early in the next game with a 6-4 lead before Misha got hot and ripped off six of the next seven points to take a 10-7 lead.   But Sean made a huge stand himself by winning the next three points to send this pivotal game to deuce.  But Misha was able to win the next two points to take the third game 12-10 and lead in the match 2 games to 1.  Sean controlled the fourth game by taking a 4-1 lead before winning four straight points at 4-2 to take a commanding 8-2 lead and then holding on for a comfortable 11-4 win --- although two more service misses by Misha (!) certainly helped.  Misha was not so kind in the fifth and final game, not missing a single serve as he roared out to 5-1 and then 8-2 leads before winning it 11-5 --- thus giving the Furies a 2-0 lead in the tie.

Vincent Tai (San Francisco) vs. Atha Fong (Mountain View)

The match between USA Junior Girls team member Atha Fong and Vincent Tai was now critical for the Marauders if they hoped to win this tie.  The first game is extremely tight with ties at 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9 before Atha breaks the pattern by winning both of her service points and thus winning the game 11-9.  The second game starts tight as well at

4-4 before Vincent pulls away by winning seven of the next eight points to win it 11-5.  The scores are 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6 in the third game before Vincent edges ahead 8-6 by taking both his serves and then does it again after Atha splits hers to take the game 11-7.  Vincent looks well on his way to winning this match as he takes a commanding 8-4 lead in the fourth game before Atha wins three straight points to close the deficit to 8-7 and the Furies call timeout.  Then Vincent wins both his serves at 8-8 to get two match points only to see Atha win both of her serves to save both of them.  But Vincent keeps the pressure on by winning his next serve and leading 11-10 before Atha follows suit and it is deuce again at 11-11.  Once again, Vincent wins his serve and has another match point at 12-11 and once again Atha wins her serve to save yet another match point and deuce it once again at 12-12.  After Vince wins his serve yet again to take a 13-12 lead, Atha finally succumbs after having saved four match points --- 14-12.  The Furies have swept the first three singles matches and lead the tie 3-0.       

Misha Kazantsev/Spencer Chase (San Francisco) vs. Sean Lee/Wilson Tsao (Mountain View)

The Furies can clinch the tie with a victory in the doubles while the Marauders are hoping just to extend it into the second group of singles matches.  The Furies pair are able to get a game point at 11-10 in the first game before the Marauders pair take the next three points to win it 13-11.  Undaunted the Furies pair get another three game points in the next game at 10-7 only to see the Marauders once again score three straight points --- this time just bringing the game to deuce.  But the Furies pair recover to win the next two points to win it 12-10 and even up this match at 1-1.  The third game is all Marauders as they race out to a 9-3 lead before winning it 11-4.  The Marauders lead the fourth game 9-6 when the Furies call timeout.  This seems to work as the Furies close to 9-8 but it is only temporary as the Marauders win the next two points to win the game 11-8 and the match 3 games to 1.  However the Furies still lead in the tie at 3-1 going into the next singles match.  

Misha Kazantsev (San Francisco) vs. Wilson Tsao (Mountain View) 

The Marauders need an upset in this match to avoid losing the tie.  However Misha is no mood to co-operate with that need and wins it comfortably in three straight 11-8, 11-6, and 11-8 --- even throwing in some wins on lob points ala Michael Maze --- and the Furies win the tie 4-1.

The loss drops the Mountain View Marauders record to 5-3.  They are seeing their chances of avoiding the undefeated Oakland Lions in the first round of  the playoffs starting to drift away as they lose two straight ties for the first time this season.  Conversely the San Francisco Furies are hoping that this victory --- and the addition of the talented Misha Kazantsev --- will give them momentum in the second half of the season that will not only lead them to the playoffs but a high seed in it.