The Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball team, ranked No. 15 nationally, completed its opening weekend of the season without a loss. The Sandy Owls secured victories over Palm Beach Atlantic with a score of 4-1 and Conference USA rival FIU by 3-2 on Saturday in Boca Raton.
Florida Atlantic now holds a 4-0 record for the season. Palm Beach Atlantic moved to 4-4, while FIU finished the weekend at 2-2.
In the match against Palm Beach Atlantic, Cameron Knifton and Allison Spittal gave FAU an early lead with a straight-set win on court five (21-17, 21-18). Klaire VanDeusen and Mia Scanlon followed with another two-set victory at the fourth position (21-18, 21-19). Denisse Morgenstern and Shantel Starling clinched the overall match for FAU by winning at the top spot (21-12, 21-16). Olivia Strandberg and Ava Koehl added another point on court three (21-16, 21-18), before Palm Beach Atlantic earned its only point on court two.
Against FIU, Knifton and Spittal continued their strong performance with a straight-set win (23-21, 21-7) on court five. VanDeusen and Scanlon increased FAU’s lead after winning their match at the fourth spot (21-17, 21-8). FIU responded by taking matches on courts two and three to tie the contest at two points each. The deciding match was played on court one where Morgenstern and Starling prevailed in three sets (21-11, 15-21, 15-11).
Florida Atlantic’s win over FIU marked its ninth all-time victory against that program. It was also their third win this season over a team recognized in the AVCA preseason poll. The Sandy Owls remain undefeated against Palm Beach Atlantic in nine meetings.
Knifton and Spittal ended the weekend unbeaten across four matches during the event. Morgenstern-Starling as well as VanDeusen-Scanlon both went undefeated on Saturday to improve to three wins for the season; Strandberg-Koehl also improved to three wins but split their matches that day.
The Sandy Owls will next compete at the Seminole Beach Bash in Tallahassee from February 27–28.
To follow updates about Florida Atlantic beach volleyball, fans can visit @FAUBeachVB on X or Instagram or like FAU Beach Volleyball on Facebook.
