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).

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).

Facts about Marianas Cup 2009

Hafa Adai & Welcome!

…. to the 2009 Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival, Micronesia’s longest running beach volleyball event! Hosted by the Pacific Islands Club Saipan since 1993, the event combines the talents of professional beach volleyball players and the enthusiasm of dedicated amateurs. In 2008, the event was officially sanctioned by FIVB, the sport’s official ruling body. In August 2008, FIVB’s Coach Tomas Santa Maria of Australia certified nine Saipan NMIVA members as FIVB Level I coaches.

Format:
Pro exhibition on Fri., 3/6/09 followed by pool play and double elimination on Sat., 3/7/09 and Sun., 3/8/09

Location:
Pacific Islands Club Saipan
# of Courts:
4 (2 men, 2 women)

Pro Raffle: Yes, you may win the chance to PLAY with a GOLD OLYMPIAN!
Each amateur team may purchase a raffle ticket for $10 each to obtain a chance to play with one of the pro teams from US, Japan and Korea. Each raffle winning amateur is teamed with a pro for the tournament. Professional players may not play together.

Entry Costs:
$60 per team; $10 for each raffle entry to earn chances to play w/pro

Entry includes:
Tournament T-shirt (autographed by Phil Dalhausser), Awards Banquet, Drink Tickets

Entry & Payment Deadline:
18:00 on Thur., 3/5/09

Entry Submission:
Jon Cramer:jpcramer@picguam.com or Kanae Quinn: dosm@picsaipan.com

Rules for Play:
FIVB Standard Two-person beach volleyball rules apply

Kids’ Clinic with Pros:
Phil Dalhausser & Paul Baxter along with Japanese and Korean pros to host a FREE Kids’ Beach Volleyball Clinic on Thursday, March 5th from 3-5pm at PIC.

Kids’ Marianas Cup on Saturday, March 14th:
Taking advantage of the excitement, PIC will host a Kids’ Marianas Cup the following weekend for kids ages 7-16 yrs with a maximum 16, four person teams.

Accommodation Discount at PIC for participants & fans:
Valid from 3-10 Mar 2009, PIC will offer a special discounted rate of $80 + 10% tax per room per night based on single / double occupancy. Triple rate is $105 + 10% tax per room per night.

Meal Discount:
Silver card (daily breakfast) = $12 adult / $6 child (2-11 yr) per day
Silver Select card (daily breakfast + lunch OR dinner) = $40 adult / $20 child (2-11yr)

For Reservations:
Contact PIC’s Reservations Office at (670)234-2042
Email:

reservations@picsaipan.com
Please mention Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball to obtain your discount.