Mister sees wide open field in New Caledonia

The CNMI’s Tyce Mister believes there is an open race for the medals at stake in the beach volleyball competition in the 2011 Pacific Games.

“All the teams are tough and the field is fairly balance. Often who is having a good day will get you the win. The podium is open,” said Mister, who together with Chris Nelson left Saipan yesterday morning in time for the opening ceremony of the Pacific Games tomorrow.

The CNMI is among the 13 teams entered in the men’s division of the beach volleyball competition that will be played from Sept. 5 to 10. Mister and Nelson are grouped with the players of Palau, Samoa, American Samoa, and three-time defending champion Tahiti.

New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Tonga are in the second pool, while Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Guam, and Cook Islands comprised the third pool.

It will be the second time Mister and Nelson are teaming up to represent the Commonwealth in a regional tournament. In the 2006 Micronesian Games, the duo won the gold medal against Palau. The tandem also ruled a couple of local competitions from 2006 to 2010 so chemistry will be a big help in the team’s bid in the Pacific Games next week.

“I have been lucky to play with Chris on several occasions throughout the years and looking back we’ve had a pretty good record together. We have been practicing and scrimmaging three to five times a week for the past several months. Often, we will get four of us together and play a round-robin where everyone plays a game with a different partner each match,” Mister said.

Speed, strength, skills are some of our strongest points. Chris is lightening fast,” said Mister, who will be on his fourth Pacific Games appearance after competing in Guam in 1999, in Fiji in 2003, and in Samoa in 2007.

Mister teamed up with Mark McDonald in the 2007 Pacific Games in Apia and they lost to Tonga, Wallis & Futuna, and Guam. Tahiti took the gold after beating Fiji in three sets, 21-190, 18-21, 15-10.

Before going to New Caledonia, Mister and Nelson will have a stopover in Guam and play against Guam spikers in a friendly match. The two CNMI bets will then travel to Brisbane, Australia and will also have a short scrimmage there before going to New Caledonia.

The beach volleyball competition in the Pacific Games will take place at the Terrain de Beach-Volley Koutio in Dumbéa and the CNMI will have its debut game against Palau on Sept. 5.