University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, April 23
Foley, Ala. / Foley Sports Tourism Complex
1:30 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
(6) ULM
Southern Miss Set for 2026 Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championship
4/22/2026 9:30:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Third-seeded Southern Miss opens the 2026 Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championship in Foley, Alabama, tomorrow against sixth-seeded ULM at 1:30 p.m.
The Golden Eagles (14-19, 4-1 Sun Belt) are eyeing their first conference title in program history after setting new marks for conference wins and conference tournament seed. The Sun Belt Conference will provide live coverage of all 12 duals at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex with live statistics and an ESPN+ broadcast anchored by Garrett Walvoord (Play-by-Play) and Shelby Coppedge (Color Analyst).
Southern Miss will take on ULM for the fourth time this season after defeating the Warhawks for the third time in 2026 and for the 11th time in the series at last week's NOLA Classic. A win over ULM in the 1:30 p.m. dual sends Southern Miss to the winner's bracket where the Golden Eagles will take on the winner of the dual between (2) Georgia State and (7) Mercer at 5 p.m.
A loss to ULM to open the week will be Southern Miss' final dual of the day and send Southern Miss to the elimination bracket to take on the loser of the Georgia State/Mercer match on Friday at 10 a.m.
Overall, the Golden Eagles need to finish 4-0 to sweep their way to the Sun Belt Title. Southern Miss posted a 2-2 record in last season's Sun Belt Championship after playing three duals on day two. Southern Miss came within a game of the title dual in 2023 and stans at 5-6 all-time in the Sun Belt Tournament and 7-11 in postseason play all-time.
Regular season champion Coastal Carolina claimed the No. 1 overall seed while Georgia State won a tiebreaker with Southern Miss to claim the No. 2. UNCW earned the No. 4 seed, College of Charleston earned the No. 5, ULM enters as the sixth seed and Mercer will be seeded seventh overall.
The 2026 Sun Belt Championship is a double elimination tournament, excluding the championship dual. For more information and to follow along, visit the Sun Belt's Championship Central page HERE.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship
Thursday, April 21
Match 1 – (4) UNCW vs. (5) College of Charleston – 10 a.m.
Match 2 – (2) Georgia State vs. (7) Mercer – 11:45 a.m.
Match 3 – (3) Southern Miss vs. (6) ULM – 1:30 p.m.
Match 4 – (1) Coastal Carolina vs. Match 1 winner – 3:15 p.m.
Match 5 – Match 2 winner vs. Match 3 winner – 5 p.m.
Friday, April 22
Match 6 – Match 2 loser vs. Match 3 loser – 10 a.m.
Match 7 – Match 5 loser vs. Match 1 loser – 11:45 p.m.
Match 8 – Match 6 winner vs. Match 4 loser – 1:30 p.m.
Match 9 – Match 4 winner vs. Match 5 winner – 3:15 p.m.
Match 10 – Match 7 winner vs. Match 8 winner – 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 23
Match 11 – Match 10 winner vs. Match 9 loser – 10 a.m.
Match 12 – Championship between Match 9 winner and Match 11 winner – 1 p.m.
The Golden Eagles (14-19, 4-1 Sun Belt) are eyeing their first conference title in program history after setting new marks for conference wins and conference tournament seed. The Sun Belt Conference will provide live coverage of all 12 duals at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex with live statistics and an ESPN+ broadcast anchored by Garrett Walvoord (Play-by-Play) and Shelby Coppedge (Color Analyst).
Southern Miss will take on ULM for the fourth time this season after defeating the Warhawks for the third time in 2026 and for the 11th time in the series at last week's NOLA Classic. A win over ULM in the 1:30 p.m. dual sends Southern Miss to the winner's bracket where the Golden Eagles will take on the winner of the dual between (2) Georgia State and (7) Mercer at 5 p.m.
A loss to ULM to open the week will be Southern Miss' final dual of the day and send Southern Miss to the elimination bracket to take on the loser of the Georgia State/Mercer match on Friday at 10 a.m.
Overall, the Golden Eagles need to finish 4-0 to sweep their way to the Sun Belt Title. Southern Miss posted a 2-2 record in last season's Sun Belt Championship after playing three duals on day two. Southern Miss came within a game of the title dual in 2023 and stans at 5-6 all-time in the Sun Belt Tournament and 7-11 in postseason play all-time.
Regular season champion Coastal Carolina claimed the No. 1 overall seed while Georgia State won a tiebreaker with Southern Miss to claim the No. 2. UNCW earned the No. 4 seed, College of Charleston earned the No. 5, ULM enters as the sixth seed and Mercer will be seeded seventh overall.
The 2026 Sun Belt Championship is a double elimination tournament, excluding the championship dual. For more information and to follow along, visit the Sun Belt's Championship Central page HERE.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship
Thursday, April 21
Match 1 – (4) UNCW vs. (5) College of Charleston – 10 a.m.
Match 2 – (2) Georgia State vs. (7) Mercer – 11:45 a.m.
Match 3 – (3) Southern Miss vs. (6) ULM – 1:30 p.m.
Match 4 – (1) Coastal Carolina vs. Match 1 winner – 3:15 p.m.
Match 5 – Match 2 winner vs. Match 3 winner – 5 p.m.
Friday, April 22
Match 6 – Match 2 loser vs. Match 3 loser – 10 a.m.
Match 7 – Match 5 loser vs. Match 1 loser – 11:45 p.m.
Match 8 – Match 6 winner vs. Match 4 loser – 1:30 p.m.
Match 9 – Match 4 winner vs. Match 5 winner – 3:15 p.m.
Match 10 – Match 7 winner vs. Match 8 winner – 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 23
Match 11 – Match 10 winner vs. Match 9 loser – 10 a.m.
Match 12 – Championship between Match 9 winner and Match 11 winner – 1 p.m.
– #SMTTT –
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Full Highlights - Southern Miss vs. South Alabama
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