Battle-tested duo looks to improve on silver finish

Andrew Johnson and Logan Mister will no longer be anonymous when they step onto the beach volleyball sand courts of the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands this time around.

And that’s absolutely fine for the surprise runner-up team of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas.

“I’ve been looking forward to the Pacific Games since Logan and I competed in Thailand last April. The competition in Honiara is going to be tough, but that’s what we’re expecting since there will be many other teams who didn’t compete in the Mini Games last year,” said Johnson in a social media message to Saipan Tribune.

It’s a philosophy that Mister echoes in the days leading up to the quadrennial event at the South Pacific nation.

“I have been consistently training 3-5 days a week, and have been weightlifting 3-4 times a week as well. I am very excited to be representing the NMI for the Pacific Games, it’s an honor to be selected. We are expecting to do well in this competition, but are aware that the competition is going to be steeper in comparison to the Mini Games. We are feeling excited to compete against the large countries like Australia. I have been training nonstop since the Mini Games and have seen lots of improvement in my game,” he said.

Aside from working on their individual games, Johnson and Mister also found time from their very busy schedules to take part in the Association of Asian Volleyball Confederation circuit.

“Logan and I were able to link up earlier this year to train and compete together, and we are going to meet up again in Hawaii before flying into Honiara to join the CNMI delegation. This will allow us a few days to adjust to the climate and set up scrimmages against some other teams,” said Johnson.

While the results of the recent AVC tourney weren’t exactly ideal, it gave the duo a feel of where they are as far as conditioning goes.

“We lost in pool play to Thailand and Indonesia and did not make the main draw. It was unfortunate, but games were close, we were also battling with the weather. Neither of us has experienced playing in that intensity of heat,” said Mister.

The duo then took the opportunity to thank the Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association, Northern Marianas Sports Association, sponsors, and the people of the Marianas for their all-out support.

“I’m so grateful for all the sponsors, coaches, athletes, officials, supporters, and everyone else who has made the CNMI’s participation in the Pacific Games possible. Much love to my family and friends that support me through life,” said Johnson.

This was dittoed by Mister, “I would like to thank NMSA and NMIVA for the support as well as my friends and family.”

Last year in the Mini Games on home soil, Johnson and Mister finished with a silver medal after losing a heartbreaking final against Chillia James and Banga Stivano of powerhouse Vanuatu.

Mister and Johnson, who went undefeated in pool play and playoffs, nipped James and Stivano in the first set, 21-19. The Vanuatu pair, however, returned with the vengeance in the second set and blitzed the CNMI pair, 21-10, to force a third and deciding set.

Mister and Johnson played James and Stivano almost to a standstill in the rubber set, but Vanuatu had experience on their side and ultimately pulled off the victory and grabbed the gold medal, 15-13.