Tulane Wins Conference USA Championship

Saturday, April 25

Youngsville, LA

11:30 AM

Tulane University

Florida Atlantic University

Apr 25, 2026 | Women's Beach Volleyball

By: Wyatt Streett

YOUNGSVILLE, La. – The Tulane beach volleyball program broke through and made history today, becoming the Conference USA champion for the first time ever. The fifth-seeded Green Wave faced off against No. 1 seed and No. 19 Florida Atlantic at Sugar Beach Saturday morning for the Conference USA Championship, with Tulane winning the dual 3-0 to claim the conference title. The Wave is now 26-13 on the season.

The victory avenges last season's loss to the Owls in the title tilt, Tulane's second-straight runner-up result. This is the first conference title for the Wave in program history, who secured the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, also Tulane's first ever.

Tulane earned its way straight to the championship dual by going 3-0 over the first two days of the tournament. FAU and UAB played an elimination bout in the early goings of the morning to see who would face the Wave for the title, with the Owls coming out on top 3-2.

Getting off on the right foot, Tulane won the first set across all five matches against FAU. The first to finish was the fifth flight of Avery Burks and Lauren Mann, who earned a hard-fought sweep by sets of 22-20 and 21-19. The top flight of Molly Trodd and Skylar Ensign put Tulane ahead 2-0 in the dual with their sweep. After winning the opening frame 21-17, they earned a 23-21 victory in the second set. The third flight etched their names into Green Wave history by winning in three sets. Amirah Ali and Tawny Ensign won their first set 21-13 but fell 21-15 in the second frame. In the third set, they notched a 15-9 triumph as Ali's big swing clinched the match, dual, and title for Tulane.

Upon the conclusion of the dual, CUSA announced its all-tournament team with a trio of Wave pairs securing honors. The top flight of Trodd and S. Ensign were named the CUSA Pair of the Tournament. The second flight of Emma Morris and Katie Hansen along with the third flight of Ali and T. Ensign joined them on the CUSA All-Tournament Team.

Tulane now looks ahead to the 2026 NC Beach Volleyball Championship. The Green Wave will learn of its seeding and first round opponent tomorrow on the selection show, which airs on NCAA.com at noon on Sunday, April 26. The tournament kicks off on Friday, May 1, and runs through the title dual on Sunday, May 3. The tournament takes place in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and all duals will air on ESPN2 until the national championship match-up, which will air on ESPN.

Tulane 3, FAU 0
1 – Molly Trodd / Skylar Ensign (TULN) def. Denisse Morgenstern / Shantel Starling (FAU) 21-17, 23-21
2 – Emma Morris / Katie Hansen (TULN) vs. Olivia Strandberg / Ava Koehl (FAU) 23-21, 18-21, 2-2 (unfinished)
3 – Amirah Ali / Tawny Ensign (TULN) def. Klaire VanDeusen / Mia Scanlon (FAU) 21-13, 15-21, 15-9
4 – McKenzie Cutler / Sam O'Connor (TULN) vs. Kendall Mignerey / Shayna Wolf (FAU) 21-17, 20-21 (unfinished)
5 – Lauren Mann / Avery Burks (TULN) def. Cameron Knifton / Allison Spittal (FAU) 22-20, 21-19
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3

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