University of Southern Mississippi Athletics

Beach Volleyball Announces 2026 Schedule
2/3/2026 2:23:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Seventh-year beach volleyball head coach Shawn Taylor today announced the Golden Eagles' 2026 regular season schedule. The slate consists of 33 regular season matches spread across eight weekend tournaments and is highlighted by the Golden Eagles' Spring Break Slam on March 20 and 21.
"I could not be more excited about how this schedule came together," said Taylor. "As you look down the list of teams, a lot of them are programs that play at a level comparable to or a little above what we feel it takes to win the Sun Belt Conference. We also have the opportunity to see some new opponents and venues this year as we make our first trips to Arizona State and Mercer in program history. The diversity of our opponents and strength of schedule will force us to adapt and grow."
"We are coming off what I feel was the best fall in program history in terms of development. That energy and focus have carried right into the spring. We're looking forward to kicking off our season in Houston and testing ourselves in the coming months."
Southern Miss' eighth season of play begins on Friday, Feb. 20, at the Third Coast Challenge in Houston, Texas. The Golden Eagles will play four matches in total at the Third Coast Volleyball Club. Southern Miss will take on Saint Mary's and Tarleton State on Feb. 20 and close the event with matches against Cal Poly and at host Houston Christian on Feb. 21.
Week two takes the Golden Eagles to Baton Rouge, La., for the Tiger Beach Challenge. Southern Miss plays host LSU and North Alabama on Friday, Feb. 27, before closing the tournament against Washington and Tulane on Saturday, Feb. 28. Southern Miss then heads west for the Sun Devil Classic in Tempe, Ariz., hosted by Arizona State. After opening the tournament with three matches on Friday, March 6, against Stephen F. Austin, Nebraska and Arizona, the Golden Eagles take on the host Sun Devils to close the tourney on Saturday, March 7.
The Golden Eagles then head to DeLand, Fla., for the two-day Stetson Spring Invitational. Southern Miss plays UAB and Stetson on Friday, March 13, and finishes the event on Saturday, March 14, against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Florida Gulf Coast and North Alabama.
Southern Miss will host its only home tournament of the season beginning on Friday, March 20. The Golden Eagles welcome Spring Hill and ULM to Hattiesburg for the two-day Spring Break Slam with each team playing the other two twice. Following the final match on Saturday, March 21, Southern Miss will honor its graduating seniors and graduate students with senior day festivities.
The Golden Eagles hit the road again and head to Macon, Ga., for their portion of the Sun Belt Conference Mid-Season Tournament. Southern Miss will take on College of Charleston and Mercer on March 27 before playing Coastal Carolina and UNCW on March 28 for a total of four countable Sun Belt matches. The tournament is designed to help seed the league's conference championship in Foley. The mid-season tournament is split between Macon, Ga., and Atlanta, Ga., with Mercer and Georgia State hosting, respectively.
The first weekend of April sees Southern Miss travel to Tallahassee, Fla., for the FSU Challenge. Action begins with two matches on April 3 beginning against Loyola Marymount and closing with Jacksonville. Day two sees Southern Miss play at Florida State and then end its time in the panhandle against Jacksonville on April 4.
After taking a weekend off, Southern Miss closes the regular season in Tulane's NOLA Classic in Elmwood, La. Southern Mis will play FIU and New Orleans on April 17 and ULM and Tulane on April 18.
The Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championships return to Foley, Ala., and the Foley Sports Tourism Complex for the second consecutive season. The first day of the tournament begins on Thursday, April 23, with the field whittling itself down over three days. The championship dual is set to take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 25.
"I could not be more excited about how this schedule came together," said Taylor. "As you look down the list of teams, a lot of them are programs that play at a level comparable to or a little above what we feel it takes to win the Sun Belt Conference. We also have the opportunity to see some new opponents and venues this year as we make our first trips to Arizona State and Mercer in program history. The diversity of our opponents and strength of schedule will force us to adapt and grow."
"We are coming off what I feel was the best fall in program history in terms of development. That energy and focus have carried right into the spring. We're looking forward to kicking off our season in Houston and testing ourselves in the coming months."
Southern Miss' eighth season of play begins on Friday, Feb. 20, at the Third Coast Challenge in Houston, Texas. The Golden Eagles will play four matches in total at the Third Coast Volleyball Club. Southern Miss will take on Saint Mary's and Tarleton State on Feb. 20 and close the event with matches against Cal Poly and at host Houston Christian on Feb. 21.
Week two takes the Golden Eagles to Baton Rouge, La., for the Tiger Beach Challenge. Southern Miss plays host LSU and North Alabama on Friday, Feb. 27, before closing the tournament against Washington and Tulane on Saturday, Feb. 28. Southern Miss then heads west for the Sun Devil Classic in Tempe, Ariz., hosted by Arizona State. After opening the tournament with three matches on Friday, March 6, against Stephen F. Austin, Nebraska and Arizona, the Golden Eagles take on the host Sun Devils to close the tourney on Saturday, March 7.
The Golden Eagles then head to DeLand, Fla., for the two-day Stetson Spring Invitational. Southern Miss plays UAB and Stetson on Friday, March 13, and finishes the event on Saturday, March 14, against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Florida Gulf Coast and North Alabama.
Southern Miss will host its only home tournament of the season beginning on Friday, March 20. The Golden Eagles welcome Spring Hill and ULM to Hattiesburg for the two-day Spring Break Slam with each team playing the other two twice. Following the final match on Saturday, March 21, Southern Miss will honor its graduating seniors and graduate students with senior day festivities.
The Golden Eagles hit the road again and head to Macon, Ga., for their portion of the Sun Belt Conference Mid-Season Tournament. Southern Miss will take on College of Charleston and Mercer on March 27 before playing Coastal Carolina and UNCW on March 28 for a total of four countable Sun Belt matches. The tournament is designed to help seed the league's conference championship in Foley. The mid-season tournament is split between Macon, Ga., and Atlanta, Ga., with Mercer and Georgia State hosting, respectively.
The first weekend of April sees Southern Miss travel to Tallahassee, Fla., for the FSU Challenge. Action begins with two matches on April 3 beginning against Loyola Marymount and closing with Jacksonville. Day two sees Southern Miss play at Florida State and then end its time in the panhandle against Jacksonville on April 4.
After taking a weekend off, Southern Miss closes the regular season in Tulane's NOLA Classic in Elmwood, La. Southern Mis will play FIU and New Orleans on April 17 and ULM and Tulane on April 18.
The Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championships return to Foley, Ala., and the Foley Sports Tourism Complex for the second consecutive season. The first day of the tournament begins on Thursday, April 23, with the field whittling itself down over three days. The championship dual is set to take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 25.
– #SMTTT –
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