No. 15 Sandy Owls Split on Saturday to Close Regular Season

Saturday, April 18

Seattle, Wash.

1 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

Portland

Klaire VanDeusen and Mia Scanlon vs. Jacksonville (April 10)

4/18/2026 7:42:00 PM | No. 15 Women's Beach Volleyball

SEATTLE – The No. 15 Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team split on the final day of the Alki Beach Invitational, sweeping Portland 5-0 and dropping a 3-2 battle against Boise State to close out regular-season play on Saturday.

Florida Atlantic finishes the regular season at 18-14 overall, while Portland falls to 4-20 overall, and Boise State moves to 19-13 on the season.

Olivia Strandberg and Ava Koehl got things started for the Sandy Owls against Portland, earning a dominant 21-13, 21-9 straight-set sweep on court two. Cameron Knifton and Shayna Wolf extended the Owls' lead to 2-0, taking a 21-17, 21-12, two-set win at the 4s. Klaire VanDeusen and Mia Scanlon clinched the win for FAU, securing the third point after a 21-11, 21-16 win on court three. Reese Edwards and Allison Spittal earned their first career pair victory to push the Florida Atlantic lead to 4-0 after earning a 21-11, 21-11 straight-set sweep on court five. Denisse Morgenstern and Shantel Starling sealed the Sandy Owls' 5-0 sweep, earning the team's fifth straight-set sweep on court one, 21-19, 21-16.

Boise State struck first, taking court two in straight sets to take an early lead. The Broncos extended their lead to 2-0 after earning another two-set win on court four. Boise State clinched the match at 3-0 with another straight-set win at the 5s. VanDeusen and Scanlon got the Sandy Owls on the board after holding on to take a three-set battle on court three, 23-21, 16-21, 15-11. Morgenstern and Starling eventually closed out the 3-2 battle, securing the Owls' second point with another three-set win at the 1s, 21-17, 21-23, 15-13.

No. 15 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 5 – PORTLAND 0
Scores
1. Denisse Morgenstern/Shantel Starling (FAU) def. Leonie Freytag/Elin Larsson (UP) 21-19, 21-16
2. Olivia Strandberg/Ava Koehl (FAU) def. Tate Mercer/Sarah Incitti (UP) 21-13, 21-8
3. Klaire VanDeusen/Mia Scanlon (FAU) def. Valerie Bruk/Elizabeth Ortiz (UP) 21-11, 21-16
4. Cameron Knifton/Shayna Wolf (FAU) def. Michela Strati/Nyah Mitchell (UP) 21-17, 21-12
5. Reese Edwards/Allison Spittal (FAU) def. Greta Kesmodel/Jeryn Hildenbrand (UP) 21-11, 21-11

Order of finish: 2, 4, 3, 5, 1

No. 15 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2 – BOISE STATE 3
Scores
1. Denisse Morgenstern/Shantel Starling (FAU) def. Allyson Alden/Addison Wolden (BSU) 21-17, 21-23, 15-13
2. Avery Allen/Ava Anderson (BSU) def. Olivia Strandberg/Ava Koehl (FAU) 21-14, 21-12
3. Klaire VanDeusen/Mia Scanlon (FAU) def. Serena van der Made/Keira Demirjian (BSU) 23-21, 16-21, 15-11
4. Elli Wolthuis/Addison Moss (BSU) def. Cameron Knifton/Shayna Wolf (FAU) 21-19, 21-18
5. Charlee Ellena/Lily Patock (BSU) def. Riley Baer/Kendall Mignerey (FAU) 21-18, 21-12

Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 3, 1

NOTABLES

Florida Atlantic's win over Portland marked the Owls first win over the Pilots, giving FAU a 1-0 series lead.
VanDeusen and Scanlon went 2-0 on the day, improving their team-best mark to 19-12 on the season, including a 13-10 record on court three.
Morgenstern and Starling also finished the day 2-0, improving to 16-14 as a pair and 15-13 at the 1s this season.
Edwards and Spittal went 1-0 on Saturday with their win over Portland, marking their first career win as a pair.
Strandberg and Koehl, and Knifton and Wolf finished the day 1-1, moving to 17-14 and 5-5 as pairs this season, respectively.

UP NEXT
With the regular season complete, the Sandy Owls will now prepare for postseason play as they get set to compete in the CUSA Championship starting April 23 at Sugar Beach in Youngsville, Louisiana.

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