Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival - a Go!

NMIVA President, Laurie Peterka, met with MVA, Hyatt Regency Saipan and Fiesta Resort & Spa this week to firm up plans for the 2010 Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival - all systems GO!

Intense planning and organization await the event committee, but everyone is very excited and committed. This year's event will be a little different in that we are moving back to the Cup's birthplace... Micro Beach. Out title sponsors include Marianas Visitors Authority, Delta Airlines, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Pacific Islands Club Saipan and of course, NMIVA.

Tentative Events Schedule:
February 22: Pros begin arriving
February 23: Free day
February 24: Free day
February 25: Pros visit schools, Sports Wrappers interview with Bob Coldeen
February 26: Exhibition Match (location TBA)
February 27: Pool Play (location TBA)
February 28: Double elimination tournament (Hyatt & Fiesta courts)
March 1: Free day
March 2: Pros begin departing
March 6: Marianas Kids Cup (PIC)

Stay tuned... more info to come! http://www.nmivolleyball.org/

Note: Bolded dates are fixed and will not change; only locations are subject to change.

2nd Annual Kids' Marianas Cup

The Kids’ Marianas Cup followed on Sunday, March 15th with over 100 kids ages 10-15 years and a total of 20 teams to conclude a highly successful Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival. Once again, the 2009 Kids’ Cup set a new record for the number of participants, spectators, coaches and sponsors. Team “Sons of the Beaches”, sponsored by Congressman Ed Salas captured first place while Team “Lamers” played 17 games to reach the finals and place 2nd. The kids soon asked if another beach volleyball tournament could be scheduled prior to the end of the school year in May. A BIG THANK YOU goes to Ms. Mili, Russ, Laurie, Kim and all the other volunteers and parents who helped organize and run the tournament.

Congratulations to Team Sons of the Beaches on their championship win! They each received personally autographed Phil Dalhausser balls and IT&E cell phones, text cards.
Team Lamers played many games to reach the finals and place second. They each won personally autographed Phil Dalhausser balls, IT&E text card and a
"PIC Waterpark Pass for Two".

Team Lamat Pwi Pwi coached by Robin Eugenio played well for their 3rd place win. They each won a "PIC Waterpark Pass for Two"and IT&E text cards.

4th Place winners received LISS backpacks & IT&E text cards.

The 5th place team won LISS t-shirts and IT&E text cards.

Team Lamers going for the block.

Barbara, Elijah and Sean Maycock of SDA School, cheering for their students in the Finals.

"Psycho" Yoshida eyeing the ball as Coach Amy looks on.

Thank you to all for a most memorable Marianas Cup!

On behalf of the 17th Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude for all the sponsors who ultimately made the tournament the most successful Marianas Cup to date.

A new record was set for the amount of sponsors, spectators, players, and the quality of play intensified to an all time high. Not to mention, the diversity of countries the players came from was greater than past years. Nineteen women’s teams and 34 men’s teams participated in the three-day event. There were also 10 teams entered in the horseshoe tournament on Sunday. Four professional volleyball players from Japan, 4 from Korea and the 4 from the US, including Gold Olympian Phil Dalhausser made the event a memorable one. Phil not only won 2nd place with amateur partner and local MHS Teacher, Tyce Mister, he was gracious to sign hundreds of autographs, T-shirts, take photos and display his Gold Medal at the awards banquet. In total, 20 from Japan, 13 players from Guam, 2 from Italy, 9 players from California, 4 from Korea, and 1 from Bali flew in for the event and joined the 57 Saipan participants.

On Wednesday, the US pros toured three schools and on Thursday, they hosted a Kids’ Clinic together with the Japanese and Korean pros for a record of 60+ kids. On Friday evening, the local community of approximately 400 people came out in force to watch the 6 exhibition games among the Japanese, US and Korean pros. The US remained undefeated in all matches. The fans cheered enthusiastically and witnessed elite beach volleyball games, not normally available in Micronesia. Immediately following the match, all twelve pros split up via a raffle drawing and played with amateur participants over the rest of the weekend. On the ladies side, the Japanese duo of Miki Yoko and Chie Iwana played error free volleyball and took down the Italian competition to win the title for the 2nd consecutive year while Paul Baxter and California player, Hugo Dooner, won the men’s title. Paul Baxter won back-to-back on his 6th return to the Marianas Cup.

This year Beach Volleyball Japan, sponsored by NWA and PIC was present to capture all events ranging from the Pro-welcome BBQ to the Exhibition, Tournament and Awards Banquet. As such, the CNMI will be featured in a 4 page spread in an upcoming issue. Total ad value is $26,400. For the first time, Korea’s Maeil Business (1 page) and ABROAD (6 pages) sent two journalists to feature the Marianas Cup. Total ad value from Korea is $24,846. The Korean media were sponsored by NMIVA, Asiana and PIC.

In addition, Marianas Cup had its own blog http://www.marianascup.blogspot.com/ and messages were posted on the popular network site, Facebook. Marianas Cup also had its own information page on PIC’s Japan and Korea’s websites & blogs, RNC’s volleyball tour package and other sites such as http://www.asianvolleyball.org/beach/2009-02-10/234929.html and http://www.mycnmi.com/. In the CNMI, the Marianas Cup was featured in 22 print and online articles in the Saipan Tribune and Marianas Variety.

There were over $24,000 in cash and prizes awarded and several fans were made happy through the annual raffle drawing. Without the charitable efforts of sponsors, an event like this would not be possible. Once again, we would like to thank you for your generosity, and look forward to an even more spectacular Marianas Cup in 2010, where all of the pros have vowed to return.

Tieing for 5th Place: Hatsui Yui & Chie Inoue and Aurora Santos & Shinako Tanaka ($200)

The 4th place finishers, Keiko Urata & Hiroko Matsuyama were unable to attend the Awards. They won $500!
3rd Place: Hiroyo Kaneda & Megumi Murakami ($1000)
2nd Place: Federica Tonon & Daniela Gatteli ($2000)

1st Place Winners for a 2nd consecutive year!

Yoko Miki & Chie Iwana

Yoko also won MVP!

Tomo Obata won a special $500 NWA travel certificate for his loyalty in returning to the Marians Cup time and again. He not only volunteers to referee, clean the courts and set the nets, he also translates and helped in the Kids' Clinic. Thank you, Tomo san, for your kindness.

Congratulations to the 2009 Men's Marianas Cup Winners!

Congratulations to all the participants of the 17th Annual Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival! This record event would not have been possible without our valuable sponsors, especially PIC Saipan, for providing over $50,000 in complimentary rooms & meals for the pros, media and return winners in addition to venue, staff and supplies.

This year, the Marianas Cup had 49 participants from the US mainland, Japan, Korea, Italy, Guam and Bali.

5th Place: Dave Rillera (Partner Saki Waka), Daisuke Matsumoto & Shigekazu Fujimatsu ($300)

4th Place: Chris Nelson & AVP Pro Jeff Carlucci ($600)

Men's 3rd place winners: Shinya Inoue & Shoji Wakiya ($1200 cash)

Mens' 2nd Place Winners: Phil Dalhausser & Tyce Mister ($2500 cash)

Phil brought out his Olympic Gold Medal for everyone to see.

The 2009 Winners are Paul Baxter & Hugo Dooner ($4000 cash, return rountrip airfare, complimentary accommodation & meals at PIC, free entry for 2010).

The Men's MVP went to Shoji Wakiya for his phenomenal block in the 3rd place

game against Phil & Tyce. He says that they'll win next year!

The biggest Marianas Cup ever!

The 17th Annual Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival was an ultimate success. Not only did was PIC's main beach volleyball court jam-packed with enthusiastic spectators on Friday night, the FINALS drew another large crowd. And, the teams did NOT disappoint! The fans witnessed some incredibly thrilling games, with forceful spikes, amazing digs and eye-popping blocks!

Congratulations to ALL 104 participants of the 2009 Marianas Cup who helped make the event so spectacular! And of course, a big thank you goes to PIC Saipan for their generosity - over $50,000 in complimentary rooms & meals for pros, media and return winners in addition to the use of the venue, labor and supplies.

Pro Paul Baxter for his second consecutive title wins with former PIC Guam Clubmate,

Hugo Dooner, from California!

Paul & Hugo beat Phil Dalhausser & Tyce Mister in the Finals: 21-15.

Earlier in the day, Phil & Tyce played Shinya Inoue & Shoji Wakiya for third place. Shoji (in black shorts) "wowed" the crowd when he successfully blocked Phil and won the point. How many amateurs can say that? Shoj will likely include that on his resume.

Return winners Chie Iwana & Yoko Miki defended their 2008 Title to win the Women's Tournament. They received return airfare, compliments of Northwest Airlines, free hotel stay and meals by PIC Saipan and free entry by NMIVA. What a deal!

Federica Tonon and Daniela Gatteli moved up from the Loser's bracket to play Chie Iwana and Yoko Miki in the FINALS: 17-21. It was an exact re-match of the 2008 games.

Team USA Undefeated in Pro Exhibition

Friday night at PIC was home to the start of the 17th Annual Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival with the highly anticipated Pro Exhibition. Team US defended their title and won all the matches against Japan and Korea.

Team USA: Phil Dalhausser & Paul Baxter, Jenn Snyder & Jenelle Koester
Team Japan: Shimpei Asao & Yasuo Nakaya, Shinako Tanaka, Hiromi Suzuki
Team Korea: Kyung Su Shin & Su Min Jin, Ji Youn Jung & Mi Hwa Shin

Jenelle Koester & Jenn Snyder defeated Team Japan and Team Korea in Friday night's Exhibition Match. Jenelle and Jenn love the Marianas Cup and this year marks their 2nd trip to the beautiful island of Saipan. In the pro raffle, Heather and Nicole won the chance to play with the American pros.

US Pros Visit Schools Today

Today, Phil Dalhausser, Paul Baxter and Jenn Snyder made their rounds to three local schools to share their wisdom on sports, training, commitment as well as answer any questions and sign autographs. Here, Jon Cramer, Marianas Cup Tournament Director, introduces the trio to the students at Saipan Community School.

Phil Dalhausser, Gold Olympian talks about his life-changing experiences at the
2008 Summer Beijing Olympics.

What an experience to meet professional athletes!

US Pros Arrive

US Gold Olympian Phil Dalhausser, fellow AVP pro Paul Baxter and Jennifer Snyder arrived yesterday for the 2009 Marianas Cup.

Today, they are visiting three schools, KSPN2 News and attending a special BBQ hosted for the Pros.

This afternoon, the Japanese pros arrive: Shimpei Aoki, Yasuo Nakaya, Hiromi Suzuki and Shinako Tanaka. Tomorrow, the Korean pros will join the fun: Ji Youn Jung, Mi Hwa Shin, Su Min Jun and Kyung Soo Shin.

On Thursday from 3-5pm at PIC's volleyball courts, all of the pros will be conducting a FREE Kids' Clinic.

On Friday morning, Jenelle Koester, the 4th AVP US pro will arrive just in time for the FREE Pro Exhibition Match that evening from 5-9pm.

Team entries are $60 per team with pro raffle tickets available for $10 per entry. The Pro Am tournament begins Saturday morning at 9am.

Finals will be played on Sunday evening at approximately 6pm.

For more information, please call Kanae Quinn at 235-6231, ext. 5130.

NMIVA thanks all the sponsors for contributing to this worthwhile, international event. Sponsors include: Aon Insurance, Aqua Resort Club, Burger & Comer, Chong’s Corporation, Delta Management Corporation, Glooay Mai Thai Spa, Gregg Elliott Artworks, Elite Printing, Hertz, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Island Apparel, IT&E, KSPN2, LISS, Marianas Eye Institute, Marianas Medical Center, Mariana Resort & Spa, Marianas Trekking, MVA, Microl Corporation, Miller Lite, Monster, No Ka Oi, NWA, PDI, Pacific Eagle Enterprises, Pepsi/Gatorade, PIC Guam, PIC Saipan, Rainbow Color, 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).

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).

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.

Marianas Cup Sponsors Lining Up

The 17th Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival, slated for March 6-8, 2009, is gathering generous contributions from sponsors who remain strong supporters of sports tourism, NMIVA and the CNMI community.

It's not everyday that an Olympic gold medalist, along with other pros, visit our island, to showcase their talents as well as educate the youth on the positive effects of sports, teamwork and reaching your goals.

For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Kanae Quinn at dosm@picsaipan.com or Jon Cramer at jpcramer@picguam.com.