Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic Receives Six CUSA Postseason Accolades
5/1/2026 1:49:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team received six CUSA postseason accolades, earning CUSA Freshman of the Year, two CUSA All-Conference First Team honorees, one CUSA All-Conference Second Team honoree, and two CUSA All-Freshman Team honorees, announced by the league office on Friday.
CUSA Freshman of the Year: Ava Koehl
CUSA All-Conference First Team: Denisse Morgenstern and Shantel Starling
CUSA All-Conference Second Team: Klaire VanDeusen
CUSA All-Freshman Team: Ava Koehl and Allison Spittal
Ava Koehl had a phenomenal freshman season, earning CUSA Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team honors. The standout freshman became the first Sandy Owl to be recognized as a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American, in addition to earning CUSA All-Tournament Team honors. Koehl, tied for second on the team with a 20-15 record this past season, including a season-best 16-12 mark on court two while finishing 4-1 on court three. She produced a team second-best 20-15 pair record alongside Olivia Strandberg. Koehl earned ranked wins this season against No. 6 TCU, No. 7 Florida State, and No. 16/No. 17 North Florida. In the CUSA Championship, Koehl finished 3-1, sweeping No. 8-seed Tarleton State and No. 3-seed FIU, and earned a three-set win over No. 2-seed UAB. Koehl earned CUSA Pair of the Week honors on March 17 after going 3-1 during the Florida Atlantic Beach Invitational, earning wins over No. 7 Florida State, No. 6 TCU, and Tampa.
Denisse Morgenstern was named CUSA First Team All-Conference. Morgenstern finished tied for fifth on the team with an 18-17 record during her first season in Paradise, including a season-best 17-16 record on court one. She produced a season-best pair record of 18-16, teaming up with Shantel Starling. Morgenstern earned ranked wins against No. 6 TCU, No. 19 Washington, and defeated North Florida three times, once as No. 16 and twice as No. 17. She garnered CUSA Pair of the Week honors on April 21 after an unbeaten 4-0 weekend at the Alki Beach Invitational, earning three straight-set sweeps and one three-set win at the 1s against Oregon, No. 19 Washington, Portland, and RV Boise State. In the CUSA Championship, Morgenstern earned victories against No. 8-seed Tarleton State and No. 4-seed South Florida. Academically, Morgenstern was recognized as a CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medal recipient and was named to the CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Shantel Starling was also named CUSA First Team All-Conference. Starling finished tied for fifth on the team with an 18-16 record in 2026, including a season-best 17-15 record on court one. She produced a career-best record of 18-16, pairing up with Morgenstern. Starling earned ranked wins against No. 6 TCU, No. 19 Washington, and defeated North Florida three times, once as No. 16 and twice as No. 17. She garnered CUSA Pair of the Week honors on April 21, following an unbeaten 4-0 weekend at the Alki Beach Invitational, earning three straight-set sweeps and one three-set win on court one against Oregon, No. 19 Washington, Portland, and RV Boise State. In the CUSA Championship, Starling earned wins over No. 8-seed Tarleton State and No. 4-seed South Florida. Off the court, Starling was named to the CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Klaire VanDeusen was named a CUSA Second Team All-Conference honoree. VanDeusen tied for a team-best 21-16 record during her senior season, including a season-best 15-14 record on court three. As a pair, VanDeusen finished the 2026 season with a team-leading 21-16 record playing alongside Mia Scanlon. VanDeusen received a league-best two CUSA Pair of the Week honors on March 10 and April 14. She earned ranked wins in 2026 against No. 1 UCLA, No. 15 Stetson, and twice against No. 17 North Florida. In the CUSA Championship, she secured victories over No. 8-seed Tarleton State and No. 4-seed South Florida. Academically, VanDeusen was recognized on the CUSA All-Academic Team and was named a CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medal recipient and a CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree.
Allison Spittal was also named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team. Spittal recorded a 15-11 record in 2026, playing every match on court five. She produced a season-best 13-11 pair record alongside Cameron Knifton. Spittal earned a ranked wins against No. 15 Stetson and No. 16 North Florida.
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CUSA Freshman of the Year: Ava Koehl
CUSA All-Conference First Team: Denisse Morgenstern and Shantel Starling
CUSA All-Conference Second Team: Klaire VanDeusen
CUSA All-Freshman Team: Ava Koehl and Allison Spittal
Ava Koehl had a phenomenal freshman season, earning CUSA Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team honors. The standout freshman became the first Sandy Owl to be recognized as a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American, in addition to earning CUSA All-Tournament Team honors. Koehl, tied for second on the team with a 20-15 record this past season, including a season-best 16-12 mark on court two while finishing 4-1 on court three. She produced a team second-best 20-15 pair record alongside Olivia Strandberg. Koehl earned ranked wins this season against No. 6 TCU, No. 7 Florida State, and No. 16/No. 17 North Florida. In the CUSA Championship, Koehl finished 3-1, sweeping No. 8-seed Tarleton State and No. 3-seed FIU, and earned a three-set win over No. 2-seed UAB. Koehl earned CUSA Pair of the Week honors on March 17 after going 3-1 during the Florida Atlantic Beach Invitational, earning wins over No. 7 Florida State, No. 6 TCU, and Tampa.
Denisse Morgenstern was named CUSA First Team All-Conference. Morgenstern finished tied for fifth on the team with an 18-17 record during her first season in Paradise, including a season-best 17-16 record on court one. She produced a season-best pair record of 18-16, teaming up with Shantel Starling. Morgenstern earned ranked wins against No. 6 TCU, No. 19 Washington, and defeated North Florida three times, once as No. 16 and twice as No. 17. She garnered CUSA Pair of the Week honors on April 21 after an unbeaten 4-0 weekend at the Alki Beach Invitational, earning three straight-set sweeps and one three-set win at the 1s against Oregon, No. 19 Washington, Portland, and RV Boise State. In the CUSA Championship, Morgenstern earned victories against No. 8-seed Tarleton State and No. 4-seed South Florida. Academically, Morgenstern was recognized as a CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medal recipient and was named to the CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Shantel Starling was also named CUSA First Team All-Conference. Starling finished tied for fifth on the team with an 18-16 record in 2026, including a season-best 17-15 record on court one. She produced a career-best record of 18-16, pairing up with Morgenstern. Starling earned ranked wins against No. 6 TCU, No. 19 Washington, and defeated North Florida three times, once as No. 16 and twice as No. 17. She garnered CUSA Pair of the Week honors on April 21, following an unbeaten 4-0 weekend at the Alki Beach Invitational, earning three straight-set sweeps and one three-set win on court one against Oregon, No. 19 Washington, Portland, and RV Boise State. In the CUSA Championship, Starling earned wins over No. 8-seed Tarleton State and No. 4-seed South Florida. Off the court, Starling was named to the CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Klaire VanDeusen was named a CUSA Second Team All-Conference honoree. VanDeusen tied for a team-best 21-16 record during her senior season, including a season-best 15-14 record on court three. As a pair, VanDeusen finished the 2026 season with a team-leading 21-16 record playing alongside Mia Scanlon. VanDeusen received a league-best two CUSA Pair of the Week honors on March 10 and April 14. She earned ranked wins in 2026 against No. 1 UCLA, No. 15 Stetson, and twice against No. 17 North Florida. In the CUSA Championship, she secured victories over No. 8-seed Tarleton State and No. 4-seed South Florida. Academically, VanDeusen was recognized on the CUSA All-Academic Team and was named a CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medal recipient and a CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree.
Allison Spittal was also named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team. Spittal recorded a 15-11 record in 2026, playing every match on court five. She produced a season-best 13-11 pair record alongside Cameron Knifton. Spittal earned a ranked wins against No. 15 Stetson and No. 16 North Florida.
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
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/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
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