By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

LINDA Anastacio-Roberts survived 11 other players to win the first-ever Queen of the Beach volleyball tournament last Sunday at the PIC sandcourt.
The inaugural Queen of the Beach had a unique format with a team requiring two members to play on the court, but after every game each player has a different partner.
"I like the idea of challenging a player with a new partner for each game. It can really stretch a player to adapt to another person’s style. Several years ago we did a similar tournament for the men and it was well received," tournament director and NMI coach Russ Quinn said.
"In this format, it is impossible to kow who will emerge as the Queen of the Beach. You have to be a balanced player and adjust to a new partner every game," he added.
The tournament had two elimination rounds with the 12 players grouped into three pools. After the first elimination, eight players advanced, namely Kadya Peters, EJ Lee, Melissa Halaby, Laurie Peterka, Heather Kennedy, Mili Saiki, Nina Mosley and "Steady Linda" Anastacio-Roberts.
In the second elimination round, each player played six games, which each match ending if a team scores 21.
In the first of three match, Micro Games veterans Kennedy and Peterka battled the pair of Halaby and Anastacio-Roberts and prevailed, 21-17.
In the second match, the duo of Kennedy and Anastacio-Roberts battled the tandem of Peterka and Halaby and won, 21-16.
With the victory, Kennedy moved closer to claiming the Queen tiara. Peterka and Anastacio are Kennedy’s closest pursuer with one win apiece.
In the final game, the pair of Peterka and Anastacio-Roberts met the tandem of Halaby and Kennedy with the former winning, 21-13.
After three games, Peterka, Kennedy and Anastacio-Roberts were tied with "Steady Linda" winning the tiebreak.
"In this format, steady play gets the job done," Quinn said.
"I really like this format because it’s so fun to play with different players each game. It really gives everybody a chance to win," Anastacio-Roberts said.
Placing second behind Anastacio-Roberts was Peterka, followed by Kennedy and Halaby.