Broncos Claim Pair of Ranked Victories in Big 12 Debut

Friday, March 27

Fort Worth, Texas

9 a.m. MT

Boise State

#5 Florida State

Photo by: Kenna Harbison

Broncos Claim Pair of Ranked Victories in Big 12 Debut

3/28/2026 1:43:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

FORT WORTH, Texas – Boise State Beach Volleyball made a splash in its first conference competition as members of the Big 12, defeating a pair of ranked opponents in the same weekend for the first time in program history.

The Broncos (9-11, 2-1 Big 12) defeated No. 20 Arizona and No. 19 South Carolina each by a score of 3-2 over the weekend. Boise State lost its other two duals, falling to No. 5 Florida State and No. 7 TCU, the defending national champion.

Boise State opened the weekend against Florida State, with the Seminoles claiming the first point from court five. Addison Moss and Elli Wolthuis forced a third-set match from the No. 4 position, but the Broncos fell 15-12 in the final frame. Ava Anderson and Addison Wolden also went the distance from the No. 2 position, ultimately falling 31-29, 15-21, 15-12 as the Seminoles secured the victory.

Boise State snapped the losing skid against No. 20 Arizona. After dropping the first point on court five, Moss and Wolthuis evened the score with a thrilling three-set victory from the No. 4 slot. Reigning Big 12 Pair of the Week honorees Avery Allen and Keira Demirjian won in two sets from court three to give Boise State the lead, allowing Allyson Alden and Serena van der Made to clinch the victory from the top court.

The Broncos faced off against the defending national champion, TCU, to start the day on Saturday. Anderson and Wolden nearly pulled off a victory from court two, but ultimately lost in three sets as Boise State fell to the seventh-ranked Horned Frogs.

The Blue and Orange responded against the 19th-ranked Gamecocks. After cruising in the first set, Moss and Wolthuis pulled out a 26-24 victory in the second to give Boise State a 1-0 advantage. South Carolina evened the score from court five, but the Broncos retook the lead following a straight-set win from Alden and van der Made on the top court. Anderson and Wolden secured the victory for the squad, winning 21-18, 21-19 from court two to give Boise State its second ranked victory of the weekend.

Quotables
"Those were some big wins to get off our back. These were good wins against good teams. I was really proud of how we responded after not having good morning duals on both days. The fact that we punched back against quality opponents is my biggest takeaway." – head coach Alex Venardos

"We're really comfortable against this top competition. We know what's expected of us and the road map to get there. It didn't feel foreign coming out here and competing against the best of the best. We weren't blindsided by any size, physicality or systems of play. We just trusted our process." - Venardos

"We have put in some miles so far this season. We are really excited to be home in Boise for the next two weeks. I'm really proud of the product we're putting out there right now and I'm excited for Bronco Nation to see it for themselves." – Venardos

Notables
- Boise State won multiple duals against ranked opponents in the same weekend for the first time in program history.
- The two ranked wins put the Broncos' program total up to six. Boise State last defeated a ranked opponent on April 10, 2024 with a home win over No. 17 Arizona.
- The wins mark the second year in program history the Broncos have won multiple duals against ranked opponents, having also done so in 2024.
- The Broncos have won four consecutive matches against the Wildcats. Arizona won the first 14 duals of the all-time series before the recent streak.
- Boise State won its first dual over South Carolina in program history, having lost in its previous two attempts.
- Ava Anderson has moved into third place in program history with 72 career victories. Elli Wolthuis has moved into a tie for fourth place with Sierra Land (2021-24) with 71 career wins.
- Addison Wolden moved into seventh place in program history with 66 career wins.
- Andreson and Wolden picked up their 14th career win from court two as a tandem, one shy of the program record of 15.
- Avery Allen has 11 victories from court three on the season, moving into the second-most in a single season in program history.

What's Next
The Broncos will return to the Treasure Valley for back-to-back weeks of beach volleyball action in Boise. The Blue and Orange will compete in the Boise State Classic, April 3-4, and the Boise State Beach Bash from April 10-11. Both events will take place at the Boise State Beach Volleyball Complex.

Full Results
No. 5 Florida State def. Boise State 5-0
Order of Finish: 5,4,3,1,2
1.) Alexis Durish/Audrey Koenig (FSU) def. Allyson Alden/Serena van der Made (BOI) 21-18, 21-10
2.) Jordan Boulware/Audrey Rothman (FSU) def. Ava Anderson/Addison Wolden (BOI) 31-29, 15-21, 15-12
3.) Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty (FSU) def. Avery Allen/Keira Demirjian (BOI) 21-16, 21-14
4.) Iane Henke/Kenzie Hultquist (FSU) def. Addison Moss/Elli Wolthuis (BOI) 16-21, 21-15, 15-12
5.) Bailey Higgins/Myriah Massey (FSU) def. Charlee Ellena/Luna Ingaramo (BOI) 21-14, 21-17

Boise State def. No. 20 Arizona 3-2
Order of Finish: 5,4,3,1,2
1.) Allyson Alden/Serena van der Made (BOI) def. Carlie Cisneros/Regan Holmer (ARIZ) 21-13, 21-18
2.) Madeline Walker/Ashlyn Zilliken (ARIZ) def. Ava Anderson/Addison Wolden (BOI) 15-21, 21-19, 15-9
3.) Avery Allen/Keira Demirjian (BOI) def. Meghan O'Meara/Jamie Streit (ARIZ) 21-15, 21-16
4.) Addison Moss/Elli Wolthuis (BOI) def. Sadie Moore/Adri Nieves Papaleo (ARIZ) 21-17, 15-21, 15-13
5.) Brooke Boyko/Sophia Winter (ARIZ) def. Charlee Ellena/Luna Ingaramo (BOI) 21-17, 21-18

No. 7 TCU def. Boise State 5-0
Order of Finish: 4,5,3,1,2
1.) Elea Beutel/Kaitlyn Bradley (TCU) def. Allyson Alden/Serena van der Made (BOI) 21-19, 21-18
2.) Natalie Glenn/Denie Konstantinova (TCU) def. Ava Anderson/Addison Wolden (BOI) 21-18, 22-24, 15-9
3.) Anna Long/Hannah Taylor (TCU) def. Avery Allen/Keira Demirjian (BOI) 21-14, 21-17
4.) Anhelina Khmil/Stacy Reeves (TCU) def. Addison Moss/Elli Wolthuis (BOI) 21-14, 21-10
5.) Sofia Izuzquiza/Melina Mol (TCU) def. Charlee Ellena/Luna Ingaramo (BOI) 21-13, 21-15

Boise State def. No. 19 South Carolina 3-2
Order of Finish: 4,5,1,2,3
1.) Allyson Alden/Serena van der Made (BOI) def. Brooke Balue/Rachel Hartmann (SC) 21-13, 21-18
2.) Ava Anderson/Addison Wolden (BOI) def. Jolie Cranford/Peyton Yamagata (SC) 21-18, 21-19
3.) Julia Waugh/Evie Ziffer (SC) def. Avery Allen/Keira Demirjian (BOI) 21-13, 16-21, 16-14
4.) Addison Moss/Elli Wolthuis (BOI) def. Lauren Lawson/Juju Quintero (SC) 21-12, 26-24
5.) Morgan Downs/Amelia Taft (SC) def. Charlee Ellena/Luna Ingaramo (BOI) 21-17, 21-19