NMIVA qualifier this weekend

While the 8th Annual Miller Lite Coed Four-Person Volleyball League is over, the quest for the CNMI’s kings and queens of the beach is still on as the Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association is hosting its fourth Pacific Games qualifier this weekend.

The competitions set to determine the twosomes who will march behind the latte stone, star, and mwarmwar in Samoa continue at the Pacific Islands Club today but players are reminded that the competition has been bumped up to a 12pm start.

The tournament serves as much as a proverbial talent sifter as it does as a NMIVA fundraiser that will help get the athletes to the Games, and one team is already pulling away from the pack on the men’s side.

So far the combination of Chris Nelson and Mark McDonald is far ahead of the competition but Nelson’s recent injury sustained during Turkey Bowl X could keep the duo off of the sand for this weekend’s event.

The door may be open for the men but the dedication by a new team of women has put them in front of the pack as Melisa Halaby and Nina Mosley have been racking up points by spending time in the sand with NMIVA coach Russ Quinn during practice sessions.
The next qualifier in San Antonio will be next year when the post-holiday action resumes on Jan. 7 and Jan. 21, 2007. The tournament slate has two February dates as well on Feb. 4, 2007 at 1pm and Feb. 10, but quality play isn’t enough to get a ticket to the Pacific Games.

Points will be awarded based upon the team’s performance in the tournaments. First place squads earn 10 points for their efforts on the sand, runners-up bring home eight points, third place garners six points, fourth place finishers take four points, and fifth place counts as two points toward qualifying for the CNMI team.

The cost to participate in each of the tournaments is $5 per person for NMIVA members and $10 for non-members.

Qualifying tournaments are open to everyone but the results of the qualification series will count as 65-percent of the selection process. In addition to the qualifiers, NMIVA is offering a series of volleyball clinics at the PIC with Quinn every Wednesday through Feb. 7, 2007.

All participants will be rewarded for their commitment as attendance at the clinics count for 20 percent of the qualification process. Each session counts as two points toward making the cut and those who miss out more than half of the clinics will lose their eligibility altogether.

The final 15 percent of the process comes at the discretion of coach Quinn, who will make his rankings based upon overall fitness and shape, attitude, cooperation, skill level, and technique (passing, setting, spiking, and service).