‘Strong chance of podium finish for beach v-ball’

The small NMI National Beach Volleyball Team has a strong chance of a podium finish in the 2024 Micronesian Games in Majuro, Marshall Islands.

Despite powerhouse duo Logan Mister and Andrew Johnson not being on the team, coach Tyce Mister said that Aurora Santos, Kathy Winkfield, Dylan Mister, and Jermaine Salas have a lot to bring to the Games.

“Our men’s team is young, but they both have some great volleyball experience under their belts. They are both very fast on defense and their positive attitude will also synergize. Our women’s team will capitalize on their experience,” he said about the 2024 Micronesian Games beach volleyball team.

Winkfield has many years of volleyball experience under her belt and was on the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games beach volleyball team. Dylan is the younger brother of NMPMG silver medalist and 2023 Pacific Games bronze medalist Logan.

As for training, both Winkfield and Salas have been practicing on Saipan’s beaches with coach Tyce, and assistance from Chris Nelson and Jacoby Winkfield.

Santos, on the other hand, has been training in Colorado near Denver, where there are a variety of beach courts set up, while Dylan has been training in Southern California with his brother national team pool player Logan.

The biggest challenge then, said Tyce, is that they have all been training apart from their partner. “They all are experienced and will have similar styles of play, but the lack of time to gel together on the court will be a challenge,” he said. However, he also said, “They will adapt quickly.”

As to how the team was selected, Tyce said that they had open tryouts for the team. With Logan and Johnson unable to attend the Games, Tyce said it opened up a great opportunity to bring in some up-and-coming beach volleyball athletes. Meanwhile, there was a shortage of women who tried out for the team, and those who were selected were unable to attend.

However, Tyce said they knew Santos, who was born and raised in the NMI, had been training and playing a lot of beach volleyball. “She had returned to Saipan a few times in recent years, consistently demonstrating a high caliber of play. We reached out to her, and the timing was perfect as she was going to be in Hawaii until just before the Games,” said Tyce.

While Tyce is the coach for the team, he is not going to the Games, so Winkfield will get the title of athlete-coach in Majuro.

Beach volleyball competitions are slated for Saturday, June 15, until Tuesday, June 18.