Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball players Kendall Mignerey and Denisse Morgenstern have been named to the 2026 Conference USA (CUSA) Preseason Team, according to an announcement from the league office.
The CUSA preseason team includes 11 athletes, with selections determined by votes from the conference’s head coaches. This is the first time both Mignerey and Morgenstern have received preseason honors in their collegiate careers.
Morgenstern, originally from Asunción, Paraguay, transferred to Florida Atlantic from Coastal Carolina. She spent the 2025 season away from NCAA competition to represent Paraguay in the South American Beach Volleyball Circuit. During that time, she won two silver medals and a gold medal at the final event of the circuit. Morgenstern also earned a bronze medal at the 2025 Asuncion Junior Pan American Games and secured a gold medal at the Bolivarian Games Lima-Ayacucho Championship. In 2024, she was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and received All-Conference Second Team recognition.
Mignerey comes from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. She was selected for the CUSA All-Conference First Team in 2025 and received CUSA Pair of the Tournament honors that same year. Mignerey ended last season with an overall record of 18-17 and posted her best performance on court three with an 11-8 mark. Most of her matches were played alongside Kate McLaughlin, achieving an 11-9 pair record. Notably, Mignerey recorded wins against several ranked teams: No. 7 Florida State, No. 8 Texas, No. 14 Washington, No. 17 FIU, and No. 20 Georgia State. In postseason play, she went 3-1 during the CUSA Tournament and secured a decisive win against Tulane in the championship match. Academically, Mignerey has been recognized with both the CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal and Honor Roll honors.
The Florida Atlantic Owls will begin their 2026 season with home matches on February 20 and 21 as they host the Beach Burrow Bash.
The full list of athletes named to this year’s Conference USA Preseason Team includes Kendall Mignerey (Florida Atlantic), Denisse Morgenstern (Florida Atlantic), Katarina Drozd (FIU), Brianna Luoma (FIU; Preseason Player of the Year), Ally Larkin (Missouri State), Allison Bryant (Tarleton State), Skylar Ensign (Tulane), Katie Hansen (Tulane), Molly Trodd (Tulane), Jasmine Haas (UAB), and Olivia Stant (UAB).
“To stay up to date with everything Florida Atlantic Beach Volleyball, follow @FAUBeachVB on X and Instagram, or like FAU Beach Volleyball on Facebook.”
