(This is a preview of Team Guam heading to Palau for the June 29 to July 9, 2025 Pacific Mini Games among 24 island nations.)
Guam’s beach volleyball squads have high expectations heading into Palau’s sands at the upcoming Pacific Mini Games.
The women’s team will have a target on their back – and rightfully so as Guam brings D1 college players Kristen Serrano of University of Hawaii and Austia Mendiola of Cal State Northridge.
The men’s team of Ryan Eugenio and Kana Sgambelluri don’t have the D1 pedigree, but volleyball is in their blood with a good amount of experience.
Women’s team
Guam will be represented by its best players, and the goal is nothing less than gold.
According to head coach Manny Guarin, the competition will be stiff, with powerhouses like Australia, Vanuatu, and Tahiti vying for the top spot.
“This will be Kristen’s and Austia’s first international competition as a team, but I am confident in their ability to work hard, adapt, and persevere,” Guarin said.
For University of Hawaii player Serrano, she is ecstatic to get another opportunity to represent Guam after the 2021 Mini Games, calling that experience life changing for the best.
“Austia and I have had a lot more exposure this past year playing in the NCAA, so we’re coming into these games with confidence and a higher level of competition. Of course, it’s always an honor to compete against other talented athletes from across the islands and learn so much more about their cultures. We are working hard to earn a medal and give it our all for our island,” Serrano said.
Mendiola said these past years, playing in the NCAA has pushed them to grow so much as athletes and she’s “very excited” to see what she and Serrano can do together.
“We’re training hard, staying focused, and ready to bring our energy and experience to the court,” Mendiola added.
Men’s team
The men’s team won’t have as high of expectations as the women, but the pair expect to do well.
Eugenio has the experience at 33 years of age, playing beach volleyball for 18 years and was part of the 2018 Micro Games bronze medal team in Yap.
The JFK High School graduate will play alongside the 18-year-old Sgambelluri, who was a standout at Guam Adventist Academy and was high school beach champion just a year ago.
Eugenio said the duo will “just give it our best and play our hearts out.”
The pair was selected during the King of the Beach Tournament and have been prepping for the last three months.
For the younger Sgambelluri, it will be his first international competition and he hopes to “bring honor and respect to our island and learn from the best in the region sharpening our skills to compete at the highest level.”
The men expect some tough competition from Fiji, Vanuatu and the CNMI.
Men’s coach Galen Balajadia has confidence in the Guam squad heading to Palau.
“Representing our home is one of greatest opportunities an athlete could ever have. Competing against other country’s best athletes is no small task but I believe our men’s team is ready to compete and showcase the heart and pride of our island,” Balajadia said.
Beach volleyball starts on Wednesday, July 2, at Long Island Beach and concludes on Tuesday, July 8.
| First Take