Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Morgenstern, Starling Earn CUSA Pair of the Week Honors
4/21/2026 12:56:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – No. 15 Florida Atlantic beach volleyball's top pair of Denisse Morgenstern and Shantel Starling were named the Conference USA Co-Pair of the Week, announced by the league office on Tuesday.
The honor marks the fourth for the Sandy Owls this season, and the first career weekly honor for Morgenstern and Starling.
Morgenstern and Starling had a phenomenal week for the Sandy Owls, going unbeaten, 4-0, at the Alki Beach Invitational. The duo earned three straight-set sweeps and one three-set win at the 1s, defeating Oregon, No. 19 Washington, Portland, and RV Boise State. On Friday, Morgenstern and Starling opened the weekend with a straight-set victory over Oregon, 21-19, 21-14. The pair then followed that up with their best win of the weekend, earning a dominant 21-13, 21-14 sweep over No. 19 Washington's top pair. Morgenstern and Shantel opened Saturday's play with their third straight-set sweep of the weekend, defeating Portland's court one pair 21-19, 21-16. The duo then closed out the perfect weekend with a three-set win on court one against Boise State, 21-17, 21-23, 15-13.
UP NEXT
The Sandy Owls enter postseason play as the No. 1 seed in the CUSA Championship this week, opening play on Thursday, April 23, against the play-in game winner between No. 8 Tarleton State and No. 9 Sam Houston at Sugar Beach in Youngsville, Louisiana.
FOLLOW THE SANDY OWLS
To stay up to date with everything Florida Atlantic Beach Volleyball, follow @FAUBeachVB on X and Instagram, or like FAU Beach Volleyball on Facebook.
The honor marks the fourth for the Sandy Owls this season, and the first career weekly honor for Morgenstern and Starling.
Morgenstern and Starling had a phenomenal week for the Sandy Owls, going unbeaten, 4-0, at the Alki Beach Invitational. The duo earned three straight-set sweeps and one three-set win at the 1s, defeating Oregon, No. 19 Washington, Portland, and RV Boise State. On Friday, Morgenstern and Starling opened the weekend with a straight-set victory over Oregon, 21-19, 21-14. The pair then followed that up with their best win of the weekend, earning a dominant 21-13, 21-14 sweep over No. 19 Washington's top pair. Morgenstern and Shantel opened Saturday's play with their third straight-set sweep of the weekend, defeating Portland's court one pair 21-19, 21-16. The duo then closed out the perfect weekend with a three-set win on court one against Boise State, 21-17, 21-23, 15-13.
UP NEXT
The Sandy Owls enter postseason play as the No. 1 seed in the CUSA Championship this week, opening play on Thursday, April 23, against the play-in game winner between No. 8 Tarleton State and No. 9 Sam Houston at Sugar Beach in Youngsville, Louisiana.
FOLLOW THE SANDY OWLS
To stay up to date with everything Florida Atlantic Beach Volleyball, follow @FAUBeachVB on X and Instagram, or like FAU Beach Volleyball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
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