By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

PROFESSIONAL beach volleyball players from the US and Japan will arrive tomorrow to play exhibition games and conduct clinics in this weekend’s 15th Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Festival at the Pacific Islands Club.
According to Marianas Cup coordinator Jon Cramer, the four pros from the mainland will arrive at 1 a.m., while the Japanese will be on Saipan tomorrow evening.
The US’s Brooke Niles Hanson and Angie Akers will be playing in their debut in the Marianas Cup. Hanson and Akers are both players in the AVP Tour and were 25th and 26th in the association’s 2006 individual rankings.
Hanson, who is the assistant coach of UC-Santa Barbara, was third in digs (5.79 per game) and nine in aces (.67 per game). She is in the top 32 for the third straight year.
The Fort Wayne-native Akers was named Rookie of the Year in 2002. She is seventh in both kill percentage (.566) and hitting percentage (.438) in 2006.
Paul Baxter is on his fourth trip to the NMI. He won the championship with Randy Steele in 2004. Baxter was ranked 30th in the individual rankings in 2006.
Phil Dalhausser, who played in the Marianas Cup last year and was ranked third in 2006, won’t be around this time.
Taking his place is the No. 44 –ranked Adam Roberts, who will be playing in the weekend event for the first time.
The US pros will challenge the Japanese in exhibition games this Friday.
The Japanese will be bannered by Taichi Morikawa and Tatsuo Yamamoto, who joined the tournament last year. Yamamoto won in 2005, while Morikawa placed second last year teaming up with Tyce Mister.
The Japanese women’s team will have Sachi Oguri and Miho Makabe, who are ranked in the top three in Japan. Oguri played in the NMI three years ago, while Makabe is a first timer.
The friendly matches will start with the women’s division playing at 6 p.m. The men’s teams will have their turn at 7 p.m.
Before the exhibition matches Friday evening, the pros will be conducting a free clinic from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Cramer is encouraging the public to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from these elite players.
“It is open to all players. It is a great opportunity for the youth of the CNMI to get some instruction from some of the top-ranked professional players. Indoor or beach players should take advantage of this chance,” Cramer said in an email to the Variety.
This Saturday and Sunday, the eight pros will also play in a tournament teaming up with local players. A draw will be held to determine who will have the chance to play with the visiting pros.
According to Cramer, over $13,000 in cash and prizes is up for grabs in the two-day tournament, which will have a double elimination format.
This year’s Marianas Cup is supported by PIC Saipan, PTI, Northwest Airlines, EFC Engineers and Architects, Triple J, Miller Lite, Hertz and AON Insurance.