Phil Dalhausser, US Gold Olympian ready for his 4th return to the Marianas Cup!

On August 21, 2008 at the Beijing Summer Olympics, the world witnessed the Men’s Finals of Beach Volleyball where Phil Dalhausser and partner Todd Rogers (Team USA) defeated Fabio Magahaes and Marcio Araujo (Team Brazil) in the third set of the deciding championship game in which the USA won 15-4. And with the gold medal, the US became the first country in Olympic beach volleyball history to sweep gold at the same Games.

Phil Dalhausser, age 29, standing at a lofty 6’9” received the nickname “the Beijing Beast” after capturing the gold last summer and earning the title of Men’s MVP. He and Rogers became the first US Men’s team to win a world title and they’ve won four of the seven international tournaments they’ve played in 2008. Dalhausser enjoyed a breakout year with Rogers in 2006, winning eight AVP Tour events and a FIVB event in Austria.

Dalhausser, the recent Olympian will come to the shores of Saipan next week to participate in the 17th Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival scheduled for 6-8 March 2009. This year marks his fourth trip to the longest standing beach volleyball event in Micronesia. During his week-long visit, Dalhausser, along with the other pros, will visit schools, host the FREE Kids’ Volleyball Clinic at PIC on March 5th from 3-5pm and showcase his talents with Paul Baxter at the highly anticipated Exhibition Match against the Team Japan (Shimpei Aoki & Yasuo Nakaya) and Team Korea (

at the PIC Volleyball Courts will include a Kids’ Clinic run by the pros on 5 March from 3-5pm and the Kids’ Marianas Cup on Sunday, March 15th. The highly anticipated Exhibition Match among the US, Japan and Korean professionals is open to the public and will be held at PIC’s beach volleyball courts on Friday, 6 March 2009 starting at approximately 5pm.

The Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association (NMIVA) thanks all the sponsors for contributing to this worthwhile, international event. Sponsors include: Aon Insurance, Aqua Resort Club, Chong’s Corporation, Delta Management Corporation, Glooay Mai Thai Spa, Gregg Elliott Artworks, Hertz, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Island Apparel, IT&E, KSPN2, LISS, Marianas Eye Institute, Mariana Resort & Spa, Marianas Trekking, MVA, Microl Corporation, No Ka Oi, NWA, PDI, Pacific Eagle Enterprises, PIC Guam, PIC Saipan, PTC, Saipan Grand Hotel, Seafix Inc., Shell Marianas, Star Sands Plaza, Stars & Stripes, Law Offices of Stephen J. Nutting, Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, Topnotch, Traders Insurance, Triple J Wholesale, WDI Saipan (Tony Roma’s & Capricciosa’s).

Jenelle Koester joins Marianas Cup!

Jenelle Koester, age 31, is one of the professional beach volleyball players heading to Saipan to participate in the 17th Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival. 2009 marks her return to the longest-standing beach volleyball tournament in Micronesia.

An opposite hitter at the University of Connecticut with a degree in Human Development – Services and Counseling, Koester (6 foot tall) had one of the top matches in NCAA history when she recorded 18 kills with no errors in 21 attempts. She was named to three all-Big East teams, and in 1998 was also an AVCA all-district choice. She remained as the team's career leader in kills, and is in the top 10 in digs, blocks, aces and hitting percentage.

Koester, with Denise Johns, won the 2003 AVP Next National Championships, thereby earning berths in four main draws in 2004. Following her consistent finishes, she had to play in just one qualifying tournament after that point in 2005.

The 17th Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival scheduled for 6-8 March 2009 at the PIC Volleyball Courts will include a Kids’ Clinic run by the pros on 5 March from 3-5pm and the Kids’ Marianas Cup on 14 March. The highly anticipated Exhibition Match among the US, Japan and Korean professionals is open to the public and will be held at PIC’s beach volleyball courts on Friday, 6 March 2009 starting at approximately 5pm.

The Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association (NMIVA) thanks all the sponsors for contributing to this worthwhile, international event. Sponsors include: Aon Insurance, Aqua Resort Club, Chong’s Corporation, Delta Management Corporation, Glooay Mai Thai Spa, Gregg Elliott Artworks, Hertz, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Island Apparel, IT&E, KSPN2, LISS, Marianas Eye Institute, Marianas Medical Center, Mariana Resort & Spa, Marianas Trekking, MVA, Microl Corporation, No Ka Oi, NWA, PDI, Pacific Eagle Enterprises, PIC Guam, PIC Saipan, PTC, Saipan Grand Hotel, Seafix Inc., Shell Marianas, Star Sands Plaza, Stars & Stripes, Law Offices of Stephen J. Nutting, Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, Topnotch, Traders Insurance, Triple J Wholesale, WDI Saipan (Tony Roma’s & Capricciosa’s).

Paul Baxter returns to the Marianas Cup!

Professional US Beach Volleyball Player, Paul Baxter will return for his 6th visit to the CNMI to defend his title. Last year, he and partner, Randy Steele, won the Men’s Championships by defeating 21-13, the Japanese duo of Daisuke Matsumoto and Shigekazu Fujimatsu. In 2004, the Baxter and Steele tandem also took top honors.

The 37 year old, 6’5” Minnesota native started his volleyball career at the junior level for Team Sota of Minnesota. He continued at Ball State University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate Financial Management where his team finished third at the 1994 NCAA Tournament.

Baxter advanced to the five Final Fours on the AVP Tour from 2003 to 2005 with four different partners. During that span, no other player had made it to the semifinals with as many different partners. In 2005, he ranked eighth in both digs (629) and kills (1,152).Baxter has two sisters (Denise, older and Taylor, younger). He enjoys golf, working out, scuba, traveling, yoga, and anything else that is active or competitive. He spends part of his off season helping coach high school volleyball. "Bax" credits Karch Kiraly as his inspiration to pursue the professional beach game. The athletes he most looks up to are Kevin Garnett and Deion Sanders. If he weren't playing volleyball he would "probably be grinding it out on one of the Professional Golf Tours, hopefully it would be the PGA Tour."

The 17th Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival scheduled for 6-8 March 2009 at the PIC Volleyball Courts will include a Kids’ Clinic run by the pros on 5 March from 3-5pm and the Kids’ Marianas Cup on 14 March. The highly anticipated Exhibition Match among the US, Japan and Korean professionals is open to the public and will be held at PIC’s beach volleyball courts on Friday, 6 March 2009 starting at approximately 5pm.

The Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association (NMIVA) thanks all the sponsors for contributing to this worthwhile, international event. Sponsors include: Aon Insurance, Aqua Resort Club, Chong’s Corporation, Delta Management Corporation, Glooay Mai Thai Spa, Gregg Elliott Artworks, Hertz, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Island Apparel, IT&E, KSPN2, LISS, Marianas Eye Institute, Mariana Resort & Spa, Marianas Trekking, MVA, Microl Corporation, No Ka Oi, NWA, PDI, Pacific Eagle Enterprises, PIC Guam, PIC Saipan, PTC, Saipan Grand Hotel, Seafix Inc., Shell Marianas, Star Sands Plaza, Stars & Stripes, Law Offices of Stephen J. Nutting, Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, Topnotch, Traders Insurance, Triple J Wholesale, WDI Saipan (Tony Roma’s & Capricciosa’s).

More Sponsors Join the Marianas Cup!

I wish to thank the following sponsors who are joining the Marianas Cup!

DELTA MANAGEMENT LAW OFFICES OF STEPHEN J. NUTTING

TOPNOTCH STARS & STRIPES CHONG'S CORPORATION GLOOAY MAI THAI SPA

For information on becoming a sponsor, please call Kanae at (670) 234-7976, ext. 5130.

Returning US Pro - Jenn Snyder

The 17th Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival is pleased to announce the return of Jennifer Snyder, an AVP Professional to the 2009 tournament. Jenn participated in the tournament in 2008 and is eager to visit the beautiful shores of Saipan. This year, Jenn and the other pros will visit schools, teach a kids clinic and show off their skills in an exhibition match on Friday, March 6th.

Here's a little info on Jenn:
Height 6 foot 2
Weight 158lbs
Born Glendale, Arizona, June 4, 1976

Jennifer Snyder was a 1st team all-Big West player in both the years 96 & 97. When playing for Long Beach State, her side reached the final 4 in 97. Snyder graduated with a BA in Communications and then played for a professional team in Switzerland for a season.

Her partners include Janelle Ruen who she has played with more times than with any other player, plus Angela Knopf, Sara Fredrickson and Dana Schilling.