University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Friday, February 20
Houston, Texas / Third Coast
10 a.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Saint Mary's
Beach Volleyball Opens 2026 Season at Third Coast Challenge
2/19/2026 4:15:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss beach volleyball opens its eighth season in the Third Coast Challenge in Houston, Texas, with four duals beginning on Friday, Feb. 20, and concluding Saturday, Feb. 21. The Golden Eagles will take on Saint Mary's, Tarleton State, Cal Poly and host Houston Christian in the two-day event.
Live stats will be provided via Houston Christian StatBroadcast with links available at SouthernMiss.com and usm.statbroadcast.com.
Dual One // Southern Miss vs. Saint Mary's (0-0, 0-0 WCC)
Friday, February 20, 2026 // 10 a.m. CT
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/652234
Southern Miss opens the weekend against the Gaels of Saint Mary's from Moraga, Calif. The Geals posted a 20-16 overall record with an 8-2 ledger in West Coast Conference play. Fourth-year head coach Janice Harner spots a 51-51 overall record leading Saint Mary's with last season's mark setting her best.
Ahead of the season, the Gaels' Hannah Couch earned Preseason All-WCC honors. Couch earned All-WCC honors last season as well as half of the Gaels' top flight duo, joining Allie Cataldo. The duo finished 24-11 on the year to help SMC to the West Coast Quarterfinals.
This will be the first meeting between Southern Miss and Saint Mary's.
Dual Two // Southern Miss vs. Tarleton State (0-0, 0-0 C-USA)
Friday, February 20, 2026 // 4 p.m. CT
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/652240
The Golden Eagles close out day one with a dual against Tarleton State. The Texans finished 9-17 last season with a 1-3 record in Conference USA. Head coach Dayna Masters enters her second season with the Texans and holds a 6-17 overall record leading her alma mater.
This will be the first meeting between Southern Miss and Tarleton State.
Dual Three // Southern Miss vs. No. 3 Cal Poly (0-0, Big West)
Saturday, February 21, 2026 // Noon CT
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/652243
Saturday's action opens with a major match against preseason No. 3 Cal Poly. The Mustangs finished 31-8 last season and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after finishing as the runners-up in the Big West Championship Game. Cal Poly advanced to the NCAA semifinals before falling 3-1 to (2) TCU but defeated (11) LSU and (3) Stanford en route to the semis.
CP was chosen as the preseason favorite in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll thanks to returning three All-Americans and seven All-BWC selections. Erin Inskeep and Ella Connor earned preseason honors with nods on the AVCA National Player of the Year Award watchlist.
The Mustangs are led by 11th-year head coach Todd Rogers, who holds a 204-122 record leading the Mustangs. Last season marked the second consecutive with at least 30 wins. Southern Miss is 0-6 all-time against Cal Poly, last falling to the Mustangs 3-0 in abbreviated action on April 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
Dual Four // Southern Miss at Houston Christian (0-0, 0-0 Southland)
Saturday, February 21, 2026 // 4 p.m.
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/652230
Southern Miss ends its time in Houston against the host Houston Christian Huskies. HCU finished last season 13-20 in head coach Cameron Stitler's seventh season with the program. Stitler is back for his eighth campaign leading Houston Christian with a 102-134 overall record.
Southern Miss is 2-1 all-time against Houston Christian, last meeting the Huskies on April 12, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La., where the Golden Eagles fell 3-2 for their first loss to HCU.
Live stats will be provided via Houston Christian StatBroadcast with links available at SouthernMiss.com and usm.statbroadcast.com.
Dual One // Southern Miss vs. Saint Mary's (0-0, 0-0 WCC)
Friday, February 20, 2026 // 10 a.m. CT
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/652234
Southern Miss opens the weekend against the Gaels of Saint Mary's from Moraga, Calif. The Geals posted a 20-16 overall record with an 8-2 ledger in West Coast Conference play. Fourth-year head coach Janice Harner spots a 51-51 overall record leading Saint Mary's with last season's mark setting her best.
Ahead of the season, the Gaels' Hannah Couch earned Preseason All-WCC honors. Couch earned All-WCC honors last season as well as half of the Gaels' top flight duo, joining Allie Cataldo. The duo finished 24-11 on the year to help SMC to the West Coast Quarterfinals.
This will be the first meeting between Southern Miss and Saint Mary's.
Dual Two // Southern Miss vs. Tarleton State (0-0, 0-0 C-USA)
Friday, February 20, 2026 // 4 p.m. CT
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/652240
The Golden Eagles close out day one with a dual against Tarleton State. The Texans finished 9-17 last season with a 1-3 record in Conference USA. Head coach Dayna Masters enters her second season with the Texans and holds a 6-17 overall record leading her alma mater.
This will be the first meeting between Southern Miss and Tarleton State.
Dual Three // Southern Miss vs. No. 3 Cal Poly (0-0, Big West)
Saturday, February 21, 2026 // Noon CT
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/652243
Saturday's action opens with a major match against preseason No. 3 Cal Poly. The Mustangs finished 31-8 last season and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after finishing as the runners-up in the Big West Championship Game. Cal Poly advanced to the NCAA semifinals before falling 3-1 to (2) TCU but defeated (11) LSU and (3) Stanford en route to the semis.
CP was chosen as the preseason favorite in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll thanks to returning three All-Americans and seven All-BWC selections. Erin Inskeep and Ella Connor earned preseason honors with nods on the AVCA National Player of the Year Award watchlist.
The Mustangs are led by 11th-year head coach Todd Rogers, who holds a 204-122 record leading the Mustangs. Last season marked the second consecutive with at least 30 wins. Southern Miss is 0-6 all-time against Cal Poly, last falling to the Mustangs 3-0 in abbreviated action on April 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
Dual Four // Southern Miss at Houston Christian (0-0, 0-0 Southland)
Saturday, February 21, 2026 // 4 p.m.
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/652230
Southern Miss ends its time in Houston against the host Houston Christian Huskies. HCU finished last season 13-20 in head coach Cameron Stitler's seventh season with the program. Stitler is back for his eighth campaign leading Houston Christian with a 102-134 overall record.
Southern Miss is 2-1 all-time against Houston Christian, last meeting the Huskies on April 12, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La., where the Golden Eagles fell 3-2 for their first loss to HCU.
– #SMTTT –
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