Dallas, Texas – Two beach volleyball players were honored to the 2026 CUSA Beach Volleyball Preseason All-Conference awards, highlighted by Brianna Luoma being recognized as the CUSA Preseason Player of the Year and Katarina Drozd placed on the Preseason All-CUSA team.

Luoma and Drozd, both of whom are now in their second seasons with FIU, were immediate contributors in the 2025 season and ended the campaign as the team's best duo. 

Together, the now sophomore, Luoma, and junior, Drozd, went 22-10 on courts two, three and four, and earned wins over nine ranked opponents, including then-ranked no. 7 Cal, no. 9 Cal, no. 9 Long Beach State and no. 12 Florida Atlantic. 

Drozd playing with another partner against then-ranked no. 1 UCLA, won the highest-scoring set of the entire 2025 NCAA beach volleyball season, defeating her court three counterpart in a 39-37 thriller. 

The duo's performance earned them both a spot on the 2025 Conference USA Beach Volleyball postseason all-conference list, with Luoma honored as the 2025 CUSA Freshman of the Year.

FIU beach volleyball will open up their season at the Florida Atlantic-hosted Beach Burrow Bash, where they will compete against Boise State, Palm Beach Atlantic, Coastal Carolina and Florida Atlantic.

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