PRESS RELEASE – Guam’s national beach volleyball program will begin its 2026 international campaign this week as Niesha Chen and Carmen Eugenia represent Guam at the Taichung Bank 2nd AVC Beach Tour – Pingtung Open in Donggang Township, Pingtung County, Chinese Taipei.
The competition, scheduled for June 4-7, will feature teams from across the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, Australia, Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Guam.
Although Chen and Eugenia are part of Guam’s Under-20 national team pathway, they will be stepping into a higher level of competition against experienced women’s beach volleyball athletes from across Asia and Oceania. The tournament provides a valuable opportunity for Guam’s young players to gain experience against older, more established international competitors.
For Chen, the tournament represents another important milestone in her international beach volleyball journey. Following Guam’s strong performance at last year’s Oceania U18 Championships, where the team recorded a notable victory over Australia, the AVC Beach Tour presents the next step in her development by placing Guam’s athletes on a broader continental stage.
“After the success we had in beach volleyball last year, it’s very exciting to participate in another tournament,” said Chen. “We’ve worked hard for opportunities like this, and I hope we continue to grow and improve from the experience.”
The event also carries special personal meaning for Chen, who was born in Taiwan and will now return to compete there while representing Guam.
“It’s pretty cool to be competing in my birthplace,” Chen said. “I have a lot of family there, and I’m sure it’ll be fun. But ultimately, I’m proud to be representing Guam, my home.”
For Eugenia, the Pingtung Open will mark her first appearance as a Guam national team player, making the tournament a significant personal milestone and an important step in her development as an international beach volleyball athlete. Earlier this year, Eugenia represented Guam at the BVR Nuvali Open in the Philippines, where she and partner Landen DeVera advanced to the championship match of the U18 division. The AVC Beach Tour now provides her first opportunity to compete at the senior international level.
“This tournament is an important opportunity for our athletes to gain higher-level international experience, represent Guam with pride, and continue building the foundation for our beach volleyball program,” said Coach Manny Guarin. “For Niesha and Carmen, this is more than just a tournament. They will be challenged by experienced women’s players, but that is exactly the kind of opportunity that helps young athletes grow.”
Guam has selected traveling teams across three divisions: Senior, Under-20, and Under-18, reflecting the continued growth and development of the island’s national beach volleyball program.
The Pingtung Open is the first of several international events Guam’s beach volleyball teams will compete in during 2026 as the program continues building toward future Oceania, Asian, and world-level competitions.
alongside 64 of the world’s best with 20 countries represented.”
