Share
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 5, 2026) – USA Volleyball has announced the 26 athletes selected to the 2026 Beach Collegiate National Team (BCNT), featuring 13 women and 13 men.
The athletes will participate in a training block June 8-17 in Hermosa Beach, Calif., where they will train alongside USA Volleyball’s Beach National Team Program athletes and coaches.
The BCNT serves as a key developmental opportunity for collegiate athletes pursuing future international and professional beach volleyball opportunities. Participants in the 2026 program will be in consideration for selection to the 2026 World University Championship, scheduled for Sept. 17-22 in Figueira da Foz, Portugal.
Athletes born in 2004 or later will also be eligible for consideration for the U23 Beach National Team, with up to four athletes per gender potentially selected.
The men’s BCNT coaching staff will be led by Lewis University men’s volleyball head coach Dan Friend, with Olympian and Stetson University assistant coach Alvaro Filho serving as assistant coach.
“I hope these talented young men can take away improved skills and thought processes through a high level of competition and coaching,” Friend said. “It’s always a great opportunity to train and play with USA on your jersey, and I know these athletes will be proud to represent.”
The women’s BCNT coaching staff will be led by Beach NTDP coach Patty Dodd of MBSand, with Olympian and Florida State University assistant coach Nick Lucena serving as assistant coach.
“When our top collegiate players begin exploring professional opportunities, our focus shifts to preparing them for the demands, expectations and responsibilities that come with competing at the next level,” Dodd said. “It’s a privilege to train our best collegiate players.”
Additional staff supporting the training block include Olympian and USA Volleyball Beach Head of Coaching April Ross and USA Volleyball Men’s Beach head coach Matt Fuerbringer.
“It is a tremendous honor to be part of this group and to work with some of the most talented young athletes in the United States,” Filho said. “I know the impact that great coaching can have on an athlete’s life, and I am committed to helping these players grow—not only as beach volleyball athletes, but as complete volleyball players and competitors.”
Lucena emphasized the value of exposing athletes to the national team environment.
“[I’m] hoping athletes just leave the training block a little better off than they started,” he said. “And I’m always grateful to get the opportunity to work with the best collegiate athletes in the U.S. Good opportunity to see what it takes to compete for Team USA.”
The training block will culminate with athletes competing in the Beach Senior National Team NORCECA Playoff on June 16-17 in Hermosa Beach. Winners of the playoff will automatically earn the opportunity to represent the United States at a future NORCECA international competition.
In addition to on-court training, athletes will participate in educational sessions led by members of USA Volleyball’s Beach National Team performance staff. Presenters will include Ross and Fuerbringer, Dr. Joanna Foss (USOPC Psychological Services), Brooke Wyatt (BNT dietitian), Myles Cooper (BNT athletic performance coach), Scott Mackay (BNT athletic trainer) and Brian Hurler (BNT performance analyst).
The Beach Collegiate National Team is designed to bridge the gap between collegiate competition and the international beach volleyball pathway, providing athletes with elite-level coaching, competition and performance education as they pursue opportunities to represent the United States on the world stage.
Women
Name (Height, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
Charlotta Bell (6-3, Moraga, Calif., Stanford, Northern California Region)
Ella Connor (6-1, Kihei, Hawai’i, Cal Poly, Aloha Region)
Emma Donley (6-4, Los Altos, Calif., UC Berkeley, Northern California Region)
Alexis Durish (5-10, Venice, Fla., Florida State, Florida Region)
Alexa Fernandez (5-8, Houston, Texas , UCLA, Lone Star Region)
Malia Gementera (5-5, San Diego, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Taylor Hagenah (5-11, Oceanside, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Erin Inskeep (5-9, Hermosa Beach, Calif., Cal Poly, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Avery Jackson (5-10, Dallas, Texas, Stanford, North Texas Region)
Audrey Koenig (6-3, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Florida State, Florida Region)
Tanon Rosenthal (6-0, Hermosa Beach, Calif., Loyola Marymount, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Audrey Rothman (6-4, Hoover, Ala., Florida State, Gulf Coast Region)
Sarah Wood (6-2, Glen Mills, Pa., USC, Keystone Region)
Men
Name (Height, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
Benjamin Braun (6-11 Rancho Mirage, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
George Bruening (6-10, Newport Beach, Calif., UC Santa Barbara, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Trevor Clark (6-10, Lake Elsinore, Calif., UC Irvine, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Sterling Foley (6-5, Newport Beach, Calif., USC, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Bradford Harman (6-1, Santa Barbara, Calif., Pepperdine, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Cameron Hoying (6-9, Columbus, Ohio, Lewis, Ohio Valley Region)
Finn Kearney (6-5, Phoenix, Ariz., Hawai’i, Arizona Region)
Victor Loiola (6-4, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Golden West College, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Ryan Peluso (6-2, Orlando Fla., Long Beach State, Florida Region)
Nicolas Restrepo (6-10, Camarillo Calif., UC Irvine, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Justin Todd (6-8, Missouri City, Texas, Hawai’i, Aloha Region)
Marek Turner (6-6, Long Beach, Calif., UCLA, Southern California Southern Nevada Region)
Quinten Zilch (6-3, Hermosa Beach, Calif., Lewis, Chesapeake Region)