Gregorio, Kathy crowned King and Queen of the Beach

Sun’s out, and that means it’s time to dig, spike, set, and kick up some sand at the beach—and that’s exactly what players of different ages and skill levels did as the NMI Volleyball Association hosted the King/Queen Beach Volleyball Tournament on Monday, Feb. 16, on the sands of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

After a full day of fun under the sun, Gregorio Perez was crowned king with an average of 14.6 points, finishing with four wins and one loss (73 total points divided by five games played), while Kathy Winkfield was crowned queen with 19 points, also going four wins and one loss (76 points divided by five games played).

Each match was played in a single set to 21, with players rotating partners and competing against each other while racking up individual points. Everyone played with and against one another, all racing to finish with the highest total. After the morning preliminaries, the top men and top women advanced to the playoffs later in the day.

Perez, a Northern Marianas College student, who is mainly an indoor volleyball player, said of the tournament, “I was really nervous at first. I didn’t know how it was going to go, and I was really clueless of how the tournament was going to be like.” When they announced that he was king of the beach, he said, “I was kind of shocked, not going to lie. I had some losses so I didn’t think I was going to win at all.”

Winkfield, an NMC instructor, NMIVA member, and national beach volleyball player/coach, said the turnout was good. “We got a little delayed in the morning, but it was great to see a lot of players come out and hoping everyone had a good time. Some of them it’s not their strength, but just seeing them out here, motivates players to come out and train, especially with the Marianas Games coming up, so I thank everyone for coming out.”

As for the upcoming Marianas Games in June, she said NMIVA hosted its first practice last Saturday, Feb. 14, and said that there will be more practices to come. They hold practice at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan beach side every Saturday from 7am to 9am, and said she hopes more people will come out.

Jasmine John, a volunteer with the NMI Volleyball Association and a national indoor team player, said the tournament was a fundraiser for the NMI’s participation in the 2026 Pacific Jam in Guam from March 20–22. The team has not been selected yet but will be determined soon.

John said of the turnout, “Honestly, I think as volleyball is growing, there’s more people entering the different divisions—there’s grass, indoor, and beach volleyball—it’s a great turnout. I feel like there was a lot of participants this time, there were good plays, everyone’s getting better, and the competition’s always growing.