Friday, February 23
DeLand, Fla. / Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts
9 a.m. CT / 10 a.m. ET
Southern Miss
vs
Florida Gulf Coast
Beach Volleyball Opens Sixth Season with at Stetson Spring Fling
2/22/2024 1:00:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss beach volleyball program makes the trip to DeLand, Fla., for two days of tournament competition as part of Stetson's Spring Fling Tournament. The Golden Eagles finished last season 18-24, breaking a number of program records, including the most wins in program history. The 2024 campaign starts with a 9 a.m. (10 a.m. ET) match against Florida Gulf Coast at Stetson's Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts.
THE WEEKEND SLATE
Game 1 | Southern Miss (18-24 in 2023) vs. (RV) Florida Gulf Coast (19-18, 8-5 ASUN in 2023)
Friday, February 23, 2024 | 9 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET)
Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts | DeLand, Fla.
This is the first match between Southern Miss and Florida Gulf Coast in either program's history. The Eagles finished last year 19-18 and fell to Stetson in the Atlantic Sun Conference Title game to end the year.
FGCU is led by fifth-year head coach Chris Sweat, who holds an all-time record of 68-42 in Fort Myers. Sweat led Florida Gulf Coast to a 29-9 record in 2022 to set the program's best single season, advancing to the Atlantic Sun Title game before falling to Stetson and ranking as high as 20th on the year.
Game 2 | Southern Miss (18-24 in 2023) vs. Eckerd (6-14 in 2023)
Friday, February 23, 2024 | 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET)
Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts | DeLand, Fla.
This is the first match between Southern Miss and Eckerd in both program's histories. Eckerd is a Division II program that primarily plays in the Sunshine State Conference and finished last season 6-14 but won the Bronze Pool at the AVCA Small College Championships.
The Tritons are led by ninth-year head coach Michelle Piantadosi-Lima, who holds an all-time record of 56-92. Eckerd competes in beach volleyball as a DI Independent and enjoyed its best season in 2018 when the Tritons finished 17-6.
Game 3 | Southern Miss (18-24 in 2023) vs. #16 Stetson (22-15, 4-0 ASUN in 2023)
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 9 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET)
Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts | DeLand, Fla.
Stetson enters the year ranked 16th in the AVCA Beach Volleyball Preseason Poll after a 22-15 finish last season. This is Southern Miss' first match against the Hatters, who swept the Atlantic Sun Tournament last year to earn a berth to the NCAA Championships in Gulf Shores.
Head coach Kristina Hernandez enters her ninth year as the Hatters' head coach and holds a 178-91 overall record, highlighted by two 30-win seasons in 2018 and 2019. Stetson has advanced to seven postseason tournaments, including four NCAA tournaments since their sponsorship of beach volleyball. Stetson owns five regular season titles and seven ASUN tournament titles and has been ranked no lower than 18th at the end of the last nine years.
Game 4 | Southern Miss (18-24 in 2023) vs. Mercer (11-26 in 2023)
Friday, February 24, 2024 | 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET)
Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts | DeLand, Fla.
Southern Miss is 2-0 all-time against Mercer, who joined the Sun Belt for beach volleyball last season. This game will also be Southern Miss' first game against a Sun Belt Conference opponent in the regular season. The Golden Eagles took a 3-2 decision to stay alive in the Sun Belt Tournament last year.
Mercer finished last year 11-26 and were eliminated by Southern Miss in Huntsville. Head coach Josh Marsh is entering his fifth season leading the Bears and holds a 27-79 career record. Last season's 11 wins were the most in any season for Mercer.
THE WEEKEND SLATE
Game 1 | Southern Miss (18-24 in 2023) vs. (RV) Florida Gulf Coast (19-18, 8-5 ASUN in 2023)
Friday, February 23, 2024 | 9 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET)
Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts | DeLand, Fla.
This is the first match between Southern Miss and Florida Gulf Coast in either program's history. The Eagles finished last year 19-18 and fell to Stetson in the Atlantic Sun Conference Title game to end the year.
FGCU is led by fifth-year head coach Chris Sweat, who holds an all-time record of 68-42 in Fort Myers. Sweat led Florida Gulf Coast to a 29-9 record in 2022 to set the program's best single season, advancing to the Atlantic Sun Title game before falling to Stetson and ranking as high as 20th on the year.
Game 2 | Southern Miss (18-24 in 2023) vs. Eckerd (6-14 in 2023)
Friday, February 23, 2024 | 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET)
Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts | DeLand, Fla.
This is the first match between Southern Miss and Eckerd in both program's histories. Eckerd is a Division II program that primarily plays in the Sunshine State Conference and finished last season 6-14 but won the Bronze Pool at the AVCA Small College Championships.
The Tritons are led by ninth-year head coach Michelle Piantadosi-Lima, who holds an all-time record of 56-92. Eckerd competes in beach volleyball as a DI Independent and enjoyed its best season in 2018 when the Tritons finished 17-6.
Game 3 | Southern Miss (18-24 in 2023) vs. #16 Stetson (22-15, 4-0 ASUN in 2023)
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 9 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET)
Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts | DeLand, Fla.
Stetson enters the year ranked 16th in the AVCA Beach Volleyball Preseason Poll after a 22-15 finish last season. This is Southern Miss' first match against the Hatters, who swept the Atlantic Sun Tournament last year to earn a berth to the NCAA Championships in Gulf Shores.
Head coach Kristina Hernandez enters her ninth year as the Hatters' head coach and holds a 178-91 overall record, highlighted by two 30-win seasons in 2018 and 2019. Stetson has advanced to seven postseason tournaments, including four NCAA tournaments since their sponsorship of beach volleyball. Stetson owns five regular season titles and seven ASUN tournament titles and has been ranked no lower than 18th at the end of the last nine years.
Game 4 | Southern Miss (18-24 in 2023) vs. Mercer (11-26 in 2023)
Friday, February 24, 2024 | 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET)
Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts | DeLand, Fla.
Southern Miss is 2-0 all-time against Mercer, who joined the Sun Belt for beach volleyball last season. This game will also be Southern Miss' first game against a Sun Belt Conference opponent in the regular season. The Golden Eagles took a 3-2 decision to stay alive in the Sun Belt Tournament last year.
Mercer finished last year 11-26 and were eliminated by Southern Miss in Huntsville. Head coach Josh Marsh is entering his fifth season leading the Bears and holds a 27-79 career record. Last season's 11 wins were the most in any season for Mercer.
– #SMTTT –
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