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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 11, 2026) –Twelve members of the U.S. Beach Collegiate National Team will head to Figueira da Foz, Portugal, next week for the 2026 World University Championships for Beach Sports, Sept. 17-22. The Beach Collegiate National Team athletes were selected following a comprehensive evaluation process, including athlete performance with the Beach Collegiate National Team and/or extended program, results at the NORCECA playoff, and participation and progression through summer tournaments.
The FISU World University Championships were launched in 1963 and take place in even-numbered years, filling the gap in the international university sports calendar between the FISU World University Games. The World University Championship are either single sport or small cluster events, and beach volleyball will be part of the Portugal event along with beach soccer, beach handball and beach wrestling.
Three U.S. men’s and women’s teams are scheduled to compete. On the men’s side, 2025 Junior Pan American Games champions Gage Basey and Thomas Hurst will be joined by Trevor Clark/Quin Zilch and Bradford Harman/Grant Lamoureux.
“To compete at the World University Championships is the ultimate honor,” Basey said. “I’m excited to play against all the other countries and styles and see what we can do at this level.”
2025 World University Games silver medalists Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig lead the women’s contingent, along with Ella Connor/Erin Inskeep and Avery Jackson/Sarah Wood.
“[I’m looking forward to] getting to play against some of the best competition and learning how to adapt against different playing styles,” Jackson said. “Also, [I’m excited about] the opportunity to experience a new culture!”<
Lewis University’s Dan Friend will coach the men’s squad and MB Sand’s Patty Dodd leads the women, with Olympian and Stetson University coach Alvaro Filho assisting both teams. Friend and Dodd also led the teams at the 2024 World University Championship and the 2025 World University Games.
Men’s Roster
Gage Basey (University of Colorado) and Thomas Hurst (UC Irvine)
- 2026 BPT Futures Tahiti – Gold
- 2026 BPT Futures Mount Maunganui – Silver
- 2025 Junior Pan American Games – Gold
- 2024 World University Championship – T9th
Trevor Clark (UC Irvine) and Quin Zilch (Lewis University)
Bradford Harman (Pepperdine) and Grant Lamoureux (Pepperdine)
“I’m really excited about our phenomenal group competing and the great staff we have put together,” Friend said. “We are going to have the opportunity to compete at an elite level while representing USA at the highest.”
Women’s Roster
Alexis Durish (Florida State) and Audrey Koenig (Florida State)
- 2026 BPT Challenge Xiamen – Gold
- 2026 BPT Challenge Bhubaneswar – Gold
- 2025 World University Games – Bronze
- 2025 BPT Futures Geneva – Gold
- 2025 BPT Futures Montpellier – Bronze
- 2024 World University Championship – Durish won silver with Xolani Hodel
Ella Connor (Cal Poly) and Erin Inskeep (Cal Poly)
Avery Jackson (Stanford) and Sarah Wood (USC)
- 2025 U21 World Championship – Jackson earned gold with Sally Perez and Wood earned silver with Zoey Henson
- 2024 U19 World Championship – Wood won bronze with Sally Perez
“Going to the World University Championship is an incredible honor, and I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to coach with Dan and Alvaro,” Dodd said. “I look forward to share this experience with our top athletes.”
The individual match schedules will be released this week.