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.

Marianas Cup - Sunday!!

Phil Dalhausser and partner, Tyce Mister, remain undefeated in the 17th Annual Marianas Cup.
Not only are there thrilling games ongoing at PIC, there's also the Horseshoes tournament.
If you're on Saipan, come on down to PIC now to see the top games - quarter finals, semi finals and FINALS!

The $16,000 purse is up for grabs with $4000 for 1st place men's and $3800 for 1st place women's. 2nd place men's and women's is $2500 and $2000, respectively.

Great form, 6'9" Gold Olympian, Phil Dalhausser on the jump serve!

Phil said that Russ & Jon are the best sports casters!

Daisuke on the jump serve

Chris & Jeff Carlucci (AVP Pro) against Randy & Kevin

Team T&A (Lindsey & Gin) and Shinako (Jpn pro), Aurora

Some great games right on the PIC Beach!

Another amazing jump serve

Shimpei (JPN Pro) and Russ in their first game of the day

Jenn (AVP Pro) with partner, Nicole

Mili & Korean Pro, Mi Hwa Shin

Tony Thompson on the block (former PIC Clubmate)

Phil signed many autographs throughtout the weekend! Thanks, Phil!

Marianas Cup - Saturday matches

104 international beach volleyball enthusiasts entered the tournament on Saturday morning with participants from Japan, Korea, US, Guam, Italy, Bali and Saipan.

The tournament was made possible by all the generous sponsors:
Platinum:
PIC Saipan, Pacific Trading (Miller Lite, Pepsi, Gatorade, Monster), Aon Insurance, IT&E, Marianas Eye Institute, Marianas Medical Center, Marianas Trekking/ KSPN2, Marianas Visitors Authority, Traders Insurance, Northwest Airlines.

Gold:
Delta Management, Shell Marianas, Law Offices of Stephen J. Nutting, Triple J Wholesale/Hertz

Bronze:
Aqua Resort Club, Asiana Airlines, Burger & Comer, Chong's Corporation, Elite Printing, Glooay Mai Thai Spa, Gregg Elliott Artwork, Hana Tour, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Island Apparel, Ladera Int'l School, Mariana Resort & Spa, Microl Corp., Mode Tour, No Ka Oi, Pacific Eagle, Paradise Island Chiropractic, PDI, PIC Guam, Rainbow Color, RNC Tours, Saipan Grand Hotel, SandCastle Saipan, Seafix, Star Sands Plaza (La Moda Isla), Stars & Stripes, Tinian Dynasty, Topnotch, WDI (Tony Roma's & Capriccosa's)

The 2009 Marianas Cup participants

Russ & Tyce watching one of the games

Kanae, Russ & Jon

The 2009 Tournament Organizer & Tournament Directors

Fans posing with Jenelle Koester

PIC Saipan's own Tiger & Tommy in the game

Phil and Tyce were undefeated on Saturday

Hugo & Paul vs. Mike and Dave

Team Italia: Daniela & Federica

Jenelle & Heather

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.

Kids’ Clinic & Kids’ Marianas Cup

Phil Dalhausser, Paul Baxter, Shimpei Aoki, Yasuo Nakaya, Ji Youn Jung, Mi Hwa Shin, Su Min Jun and Kyung Soo Shin presented the Free Kids’ Clinic at PIC on Thursday afternoon from 3-4:30pm. Approximately 60 Saipan kids came out to learn to properly pass, bump, set and serve from the pros. Paul Baxter led the group for a short jog around the courts, stopping around the corners to change the footing from knee-lifts to side-steps to backward-facing runs. Next, the students were divided into groups and worked on basic skills such as the bump (forearms straight, faced up with both hands clasped out in front) as the initial task. They later transitioned to sets where the Phil cautioned the kids to “never let the ball spin” and to “reach high”. After repeated rounds, the kids learned how to serve, both underhand and overhead.

At the end, all the pros were happy to sign autographs for the kids. Jon Cramer, Tournament Director, invited the kids to watch the pros in action on Friday evening for the FREE Pro Exhibition Match which begins at 5pm at PIC’s beach volleyball courts.

In addition, the Marianas Cup Kids Tournament for kids ages 10-15 years is scheduled for Sunday, March 15th at PIC. The co-ed format requires four players and only $5 per person.
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, Hana Tour, 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, Paradise Island Chiropractic, 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).

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).