The Student Printz January 25, 2023 | Volume 108 Issue 13

Locals express concerns with Serengeti Springs

Abigail Troth Printz Executive Editor

while the city of Hattiesburg collectively expressed their excitement for the Hattiesburg Zoo’s Serengeti Springs water park that is scheduled to open this summer, some residents and business owners have conveyed their concern with the traffic and parking situation that comes with the fun.

The future site of the water park rests on Hardy Street, where construction is currently taking place. The water park will be a part of the zoo’s expansion and will replace the Cameron Field baseball park. Kamper Park, where the zoo is located, is part of a neighborhood and businesses area, where some Hattiesburg locals are worried about the effects that this new attraction will have on their homes and businesses.

Eric Davis is a Kamper Park resident who lives near the attraction site. Davis has two young children, and is worried that patrons of the water park will not drive safely in the area.

“I have little ones I want to walk with, I want to run with them, I want to ride bikes and I can’t really do that if there’s a lot of traffic, a lot of people not obeying traffic [laws],” Davis said. “I think it’s one of those things where you put something permanent like a roundabout, very similar [to] what they have on Hardy Street.”

Adriana Morin is the owner of the Electric Lounge Hair Salon, which is across from the construction of the water park. She believes that this might be a positive for some businesses, but fears it will negatively impact her business.

“I just want to make

it clear I am pro waterpark in Hattiesburg, just not the location it's in,” Morin said. “I just think traffic is going to be the main issue. It’s directly [across from] my salon and the businesses beside me are directly across from where the giraffes are.”

She loves working close to the zoo, but fears added traffic and illegal parkers will keep her customers from getting to her shop.

“I get to see giraffes every day, which is lovely,” Morin said. “[But] I think Hardy Street is not wide enough to sustain a good flow of traffic in that area. [What] might be a problem is people parking in the parking lot reserved for our

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Serengeti Springs parking and traffic has residents worried. SM2 photo

Mayor Toby Barker talks about the new water park. Sean Smith | SM2 Photo Editor

Adriana Morin

Eric Davis

The Student Printz is the student-produced newspaper of the Southern Miss Student Media Center (SM2) in the School of Media and Communication at The University of Southern Mississippi. It is published every Wednesday morning and updated online at www.SM2media.com. The newspaper has been printed since 1927, serving the campus and community with news and information. Today, SM2 student journalists and media producers create and share stories with multiple medias on multiple platforms using the most modern technology housed in College Hall. SM2 includes Southern Miss Radio, Southern Miss TV, Southern Miss, SM2 Creative, and SM2 Strategic Communication.

Opinions

Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.

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The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not represent those of the faculty, staff or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submission must include name, class distinction, major, phone number and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@ gmail.com by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space or journalistic ethics.

THE CONTRIBUTORS

Barbin shannon.barbin@usm.edu

“Kraken” unleashed on campus

BY SHANNON BARBIN SM2 STAFF

The newest Covid subvariant of the Omicron strain XXB.1.5, informally nicknamed “Kraken,” has scientists and health professionals scratching their heads.

Unlike with past strains of covid, Kraken shows signs of immunity escape.

Kraken is also highly contagious and health professionals believe that the virus seeks out antibodies weaking the immune system.

“That means it has the ability to evade natural immunity or previous

protection provided by vaccines and re-infect people who have recovered from an earlier bout of COVID,” said Kayla Johnson coordinator of Healthcare Marketing and Administrative Communications at the USM Moffitt Health Center.

The same protocol for past variants remains the same for the Kraken. Wear masks in close quarters, wash your hands frequently, get vaccinated and stay home when feeling sick.

The vaccine just like in the past does not prevent one from getting Covid. However, it does tend to lessen the symptoms and decrease hospitalization.

The USM Moffitt Health Center is still offering resources for Covid, such as testing.

“We are still encouraging prevention actions that those in the campus community can take. We are still offering COVID testing Monday – Friday here at our clinic. We encourage students to wear masks during periods of time when transmission of infection is high in the area. Currently, as Forrest County has moved back into a high community transmission category, Moffitt Health Center is again requiring masks for all patients and staff members until transmission rates decline,”

said Johnson.

It is highly recommended that if you or have been in contact with someone possessing Covid like symptoms, to refrain from going into public spaces. Remain at home until your symptoms have passed. If symptoms are worsened, seek medical attention. For more updates, you can visit the Center for Disease Control and Disease at cdc. gov.

The subvariant is named for an enormous mythical multi-tentacled sea monster, like a giant squid or octopus, in Scandinavian lore.

SM2 Sports Reporter Dima Mixon joshua.mixon@usm.edu

4th Street Sports Producer Charlie Luttrell charles.luttrell@usm.edu

SM2 Photo Editor Sean Smith Sean.Smith@usm.edu

SM2 Layout Cam Bonelli catherine.bonelli@usm.edu

SM2 Reporter Simeon Gates simeon.gates@usm.edu

SM2 Executive Editor Abigail Troth abigail.troth@usm.edu

SM2 Reporter Shannon

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

customers, so hopefully not but I don't know, maybe the tow trucks are going make a lot of money this summer.”

While Davis still recognizes these concerns relating to the park, he seems to be excited for the water park, and commented that the site will “bring a great atmosphere to Hardy.”

“We’re just seven houses down from the waterpark and the zoo. So we’re super excited to have an opportunity in the summer for them to do stuff, get out, enjoy life, enjoy the zoo, enjoy the water park, and just overall enjoy being in community together.” Davis said.

While these concerns remained prevalent among residents in the area, Hattiesburg mayor Toby Barker is doing his best to ease their worries. Barker has remained optimistic of the success of the water park since it was announced in late 2022. Barker believes that the new attraction will bring in a plethora of tourists to Hattiesburg, but is aware of the traffic and parking situation that would come with newcomers to the city.

“What we've done is, you know, we've expanded the parking lot or are expanding the parking lot that comes up Park Avenue by the water billing office. So people won't be able to go on 19th Avenue and then park on the side of the street, you know, among the houses and then come over…They’ll also be able to park in the Hardy Street Baptist church parking lot, which is used already for the zoo,” Barker said.

The project is estimated to cost $10.5 million and is funded by the Hattiesburg Convention Commission from revenues earned and a special 2% restaurant tax, according the mayor’s office. At its completion, Serengeti Springs at the Hattiesburg Zoo is designed to be self-sufficient and profitable

“We're installing a 10-foot sidewalk along Hardy street replacing the old three foot sidewalk that's extremely dangerous,” Barker said. “I’m not going to sit here and tell you that everything is going to be great. From day one, I think there’s always some growing pains.”

The 12-acre Hattiesburg Zoo opened in 1950 at Kamper Park, a 40-acre tract of land donated to the city by John Kamper in 1908. Currently the park contains the zoo, tennis courts, a playground and a walking trail.

Serengeti Springs parking and traffic has residents worried. SM2 Photos

Construction workers continue to build Serengeti Springs water park next to the Hattiesburg Zoo on Friday, January 6, 2023. Phase One is scheduled to open the summer of 2023. The project is estimated to cost $10.5 million and is funded through the 2% restaurant tax. SM2 Photos

USM celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Simeon Gates

SM2 STAFF

Members of the Southern Miss community came together for a time of prayer, remembrance and service to celebrate the 94th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Jan. 16.

The 17th annual Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Ecumenical and Scholarship Breakfast at the USM Thad Cochran Center was sponsored by Mu Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. It was the first in-person breakfast since the pandemic began in 2020. Local high school students were given scholarships for outstanding achievement.

This year’s keynote speaker was Kelsey Rushing, Jr., who is a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha, an alumnus of USM and a Capital Defender for the Mississippi Office of State Public Defender.

He spoke about the importance of serving others for the benefit of all.

“Just don’t miss your opportunity,” said Rushing. “There are all kinds of ways to serve…Sometimes service can just be helping one another.”

The breakfast was attended by hundreds of people from the Hattiesburg and Southern Miss communities including USM President Joeseph Paul, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker and special guests Gwendolyn Armstrong and Raylawni Branch –– the first African American students at Southern Miss who enrolled in 1965.

“Greatness comes as a result of work, hard work,” said Dr. Eddie Halloway an APA member who helped organize the breakfast, praised the honorees. “Many of those that do our work-work for good are just common local people. They may never make the headlines in the New York Times yet, and still where they are, they have made a

difference.”

That same morning three dozen volunteers organized by the USM Office of Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement descended on Christian Services, a Hattiesburg service organization that helps the homeless, the hungry and the hopeless. Every year for MLK day, the Office of Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement office conducts volunteer projects in memory of King’s legacy.

This year, volunteers prepared snack bags and plates of food for those in need. They also helped organize the food pantry and painted encouraging words on the walls of the building.

“I feel like we all came together as one team and that really just motivated me and empowered me. Together, we can really do a lot as one,” said USM student volunteer Taylor Adair.

Dr. King’s birthday has been a federally recognized holiday since 1986. Starting in 1994, it became recognized as a national day of service as well. People are encouraged to participate in community service projects, especially here at Southern Miss.

Bennett Auditorium receives grant for repairs

Abigail Troth Printz Executive Editor

Mississippi Rep. Missy McGee partnered with University President Joe Paul to introduce a new grant to USM’s Bennett Auditorium.

The grant is a part of the Community Heritage Preservation Grant, which was presented to the historic Bennett Auditorium for $235,000 from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The grant will go towards repairing the plaster of the building, damage to windows and other reparations that will be needed to bring the building back to its original glamor.

The announcement was made on Jan. 23 where Paul was joined by McGee, a Hattiesburg native and USM aluma. In securing the grant for the building, McGee worked with the USM Foundation Director Stace Mercier and School of Music Director Colin Mackenzie. Sara Hill, USM Physical Plant’s Architect and Manager of Space Utilization, secured the grant by writing a grant request. In doing so, the university received the full 75 percent matching fund that is available

through the program.

“This work will help us not only keep this historic structure beautiful, but also in use for future generations of Golden Eagles and community members so that they too might attend University Forum lectures by the greatest minds from across the country, and witness some of the best artists and musicians,” said Paul.

The School of Music will mostly use the venue for musical events, providing an updated home to the Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra. The venue will also house serve as a welcoming site for the students that visit.

“I’m very proud Bennett Auditorium will continue to serve as centerpiece of our beautiful campus, and now will be lovingly protected and restored for the use of students, home to the Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra, and enjoyed by the entire community for generations to come,” said McGee.

Bennett Auditorium most recently underwent a major renovation in 1991, and has since required minor renovations to the exterior and interior to keep the building stable. The auditorium is commonly used for concerts and other events pre-

sented by the School of Music, orientation events for new students, and University Forums presented by the Honors College.

The auditorium is one of the oldest buildings on campus, with a rich history behind it. The building was completed in 1930, and named in 1972 for the university’s second president, Claude Bennett, who oversaw construction and the need for a campus auditorium.

The auditorium has hosted prestigious performers and speakers, such as Steve Martin, Ray Charles, Maya Angelou, Stan Lee, Kurt Vonnegut, Antonin Scalia, and many others.

With the new repairs coming to the historic building, Bennett Auditorium should soon be back up and running and returned to its former glory—just as Claude Bennett intended.

Guest speaker Kelsey Rushing, attorney at the office of the state public defender, speaks at the USM MLK Day breakfast on Jan. 16, 2023. Sean Smith |SM2 Photo Editor

The Bennett Auditorium received a generous grant, announced Jan. 23, for repairs to the interior and exterior of the building. Abigail Troth | Printz Executive Edior

Sciannas donate another $1 million

BY SHANNON BARBIN SM2 STAFF

Longtime donors Chuck and Rita Scianna made a generous investment in the College of Business and Economic Development.

They recently invested one-million dollars into the College. A portion of the money will be used for the Student Investment fund. This program will be overseen by Dr. Steven Stelk, MBA Director and Assistant Teaching Professor. However, it will ultimately be run by students within the College of Business. “The fund includes a total of $150,000. $100,000 is in a portfolio of financial assets that students actively manage. That is, students select the investments in the portfolio. $50,000 is set aside to support activity related to the fund, such as bringing in speakers, defraying the cost of participating in investment competitions, covering students’ travel costs for visiting financial exchanges and investment firms, and so on,” said Dr. Stelk.

Another portion of the money will be used to fund the Scianna Business Leadership Program. Students who are selected for this program will receive a scholarship to help with the cost. Students will be able to receive mentoring as well as getting real life counsel from business professionals. The program will begin the fall of 2024.

“Students participating in this process will be better prepared to enter roles in professional investment management. They will have done the same work under similar circumstances and pressure that they will experience professionally. In addition, the skills and knowledge gained from those who participate will also inform personal investment strategies, so even those who do not go on to professional investment roles will benefit,” said Dr. Stelk.

Lastly, the rest of the investment will go toward bettering the college long-term such as with research and overall students’ success.

“Overall, I will say that we are most grateful for the donation and will do

everything possible to ensure that this contribution is utilized to help fulfill our mission in the College of Business and Economic Development and to benefit our students to the absolute fullest extent possible,” said Dr. Gregory Bradley, Associate teaching professor within the

School of Leadership.

Dr. Bret Becton, dean of the College of Business and Economic Development also expressed great gratitude toward the Sciannas. He said that the college is most grateful and that it will be put to use in the most prosperous way.

Exhibit examines America’s cold response to Holocaust

BY LOREN JONES SM2 STAFF

America’s dispassionate response to the Holocaust is the theme of a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum called “Americans and the Holocaust,” now being hosted at the Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and Forrest County’s Hattiesburg branch until February 10. The exhibit examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped the American people’s responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 10940s. The exhibit also showcases how even when America finally joined the fight, saving those targeted and murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators never became a priority.

“They didn’t voice their opinion. They didn’t stand up for it,” said Robin Guthrie, a recent visitor to the exhibit. “They knew about it, but then they didn’t do anything about it,”

This exhibit shows that while the American people knew what was

happening in Europe, they decided to do nothing or raise a voice to try to get the government to help with the war effort in the beginning. It was not until Pearl Harbor that the American people and the government decided to help put a stop to World War II.

“If women, children and old people would be murdered a hundred miles from here, wouldn’t you run to help?” Dr. Donald Berry quoted from a speech by Rafael Limkin. “Then why do you stop this decision of your heart when the decision is 3,000 miles, the distance is 3,000 miles instead of a hundred?”

This was the case for the Holocaust, and the exhibit highlights that. Throughout the exhibition, visitors can read how the American people viewed what was happening overseas and see their reactions in diagrams on several display boards. The graphs show the percentage of people who disapproved of what was happening in Europe but did not want to allow refugees into America.

Berry gave a lecture on January 19 about examining genocide through the lens of the Holocaust. He ex-

plained how the word genocide was coined during the war by Rafael Limkin, who pursued a law like the one on piracy that could be enforced internationally.

“But no one country can say you committed genocide,” Berry said. “Therefore, we’re going to punish you for it. It takes a collaboration of countries to recognize genocide and give teeth to the law.”

A treaty was established that would ban genocide. However, a law would not be ratified until after Limkin’s death, thanks to Senator William Proxmire, who ensured that Limkin’s work was preserved in the Congressional record.

While we need to remember the Holocaust and how Americans could have helped more, we must also remember the lives lost during this devastating event.

“The best way we can probably remember the pain and suffering of the individuals trapped in events like the Holocaust is to remember them personally,” Berry said.

Many Americans feared retaliation then, and even now, that fear is still

present in citizens’ actions regarding standing up for injustice.

“It’s just the fear of retaliation. But, if you do stand up for things that are going on that are wrong, if you stand up against it, I guess that fear of standing up, making that stand, you know,” Guthrie said. “But what could ordinary people do? You know, what could they do? Like today, people fear polls because what will the government do? Are they going to retaliate? Make it hard for you because you believe or open your mouth against a particular thing. But, if we see injustice against God’s teachings, we should stand up for what we know is right. No matter who it hurts.”

The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and Forrest County, located at 329 Hardy Street, was one of 50 locations selected to host the exhibit, which opened in April 2018 at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D. C. The exhibit is free and open to the public during their regular hours Monday – Thursday, from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chuck Scianna, USM alumnus and founder of oil drilling equipment company, speaks during the IHL search for the next president of the University of Southern Mississippi Oct. 3, 2022. Sean Smith | SM2 Photo Edior

New funding program bridges tuition gap for service members attending Southern Miss

JOSH STRICKLIN UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

The University ofSouthern Mississippi announced a Tuition Assistance Gap Funding program at a news conference on Friday, Jan. 20, that will help service members cover the gap between federal tuition assistance and remaining course tuition for TA-approved hours.

The Tuition Assistance Gap Funding program will begin for the Fall 2023 semester and can fully cover 15-18 credit hours per fiscal year depending on the branch of service.

“We are going to provide the money necessary to ensure that their tuition is fully paid for,” said Major Gen. (Ret.) Jeff Hammond, Director of Military Student Affairs at USM. “If you’re eligible, you can receive federal tuition assistance, but that doesn’t pay the complete tuition cost. We’re going to provide that gap difference.”

The innovative program greatly enhances academic opportunities for Mississippi National Guard soldiers, enabling them to complete their degrees with no tuition costs to achieve greater success in their chosen civilian and military careers.

“The University of Southern Mississippi is setting a new standard of excellence today supporting our men and women serving in uniform representing all branches of military service. I am grateful to USM President Dr. Joe Paul, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Hammond, and their team, who are dedicated to ensuring military service members have every resource available to achieve their education goals,” said Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, Adjutant General of Mississippi.

Once eligible military students are approved for federal tuition assistance, the next step is contacting the Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families at va@usm.edu to get started. USM will help students through the process of applying for TA Gap Funding.

“We are thrilled to offer an opportunity like this to support our military service members,” says Dr. Tom Hutchinson, Dean of Online

President Joe Paul speaks during a press conference at the Quinlan- Hammond Hall of Honor on Janurary 20,2023. Sean Smith | SM2 Photo Editor

LTC. Sheena Puleali’i, Professor of Aerospace Studies and Commander, AFROTC/Det. 432, left, listens as President Joe Paul, right, speaks following a press conference at the Quinlan- Hammond Hall of Honor on Janurary 20,2023. Sean Smith | SM2 Photo Editor Learning. “This is one more reason why The University of South -

ern Mississippi is one of the leading universities for military students in the country.”

What you missed in Southern Miss sports over the winter break

Dima Mixon, Jackson Howell, and Charlie Luttrell 4th Street Sports

while Southern Miss students sat back and relaxed on their winter break, Southern Miss sports could not have been busier. Southern Miss had three primary sports teams in action, and here is a brief snapshot of everything that happened over the break in each one of those sports.

Football

On Dec. 17, Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr. went bonkers. The team traveled to Mobile, Alabama, and played in the LendingTree Bowl against the Rice Owls. There, Gore ran for a career-high and school record 329 yards on 21 attempts and added two touchdowns to carry Southern Miss to a 38-24 victory. The Golden Eagles won their first bowl game since 2016 and notches their first winning season since 2019. Gore Jr's 329 yards was the single most rushing yards in a game in NCAA Bowl Game History. Crazy, right?

Starting quarterback Trey Lowe went 7-16 for 170 yards and threw two touchdown passes, one to Jakarius Caston and the other to Jason Brownlee.

"Just a special night for everyone who is affiliated with our program, from our fans to our coaches, to our wives, to our players. We got to keep working and building. We came here to win championships. This is a step in the right direction, and I'm so proud of these kids." Head football coach Will Hall said.

Coaching Changes

Southern Miss defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong accepted an on-field defensive coaching job at the University of Alabama after two seasons as defensive coordinator. A couple of days later, Hall announced the promotion of Dan O'Brien to defensive coordinator.

O'Brien, who had been on staff as the safeties coach since 2020, will now enter his third year on the job with keys to the defense.

Transfer Portal & Recruiting Class

After clinching its first winning

season since 2019 and first bowl win since 2016, Southern Miss spent some time retooling the roster for 2023.

The quarterback position was the top priority for Hall, and he found two transfers to build the quarterback room Holman Edwards (Jr.) of Houston and Billy Wiles (R-So.) of Clemson. Both saw playing time at their former university, but both are expected to compete with Zach Wilcke for the starting job this fall.

Rounding out the offensive acquisitions are offensive lineman Gabe Cavazos Jr. (R-So.) and running back Rodrigues Clark of Memphis. Clark, who has two years of eligibility remaining, was Memphis' leading rusher in 2020 and second-leading rusher in 2021 before leaving the team in 2022. He fills the void left by Janari Dean, who left the team, according to the Biloxi Sun Herald.

The Golden Eagles lost several notable names on defense but quickly addressed those holes with the portal. Southern Miss gained a pair of George County defensive back standouts in MJ Daniels (Jr.) of Ole Miss and Dylan Lawrence (Gr-Sr., two years remaining) of Mississippi State. Also gained from the transfer portal were linebacker Kolbe Cage (R-So.) of Arizona and defensive end Eric Thomas (Jr.) of Arkansas.

Hall once again added a supreme

group to his resume after signing day in 2022. Southern Miss signed 23 new Golden Eagles on national signing day.

Woman's Basketball

At the beginning of the season, Southern Miss women's basketball looked like it had a lot to figure out due to being shorthanded with injuries and offensive inconsistencies.

However, the Lady Eagles showed over the break and through their early conference slate that they are a force this season, even if they are still piecing everything together. After a home loss to Alabama, Southern Miss swept the Long Beach Classic and started conference play undefeated with wins against Troy, South Alabama, and Louisiana.

As of January 23, the Lady Eagles are 13-6 and 6-2 in the Sun Belt, ranking them only behind James Madison in the conference standings.

A key to their early success in the conference is a part of their identity: defense. The Lady Eagles forced 104 turnovers in their first five games in the conference over the break and held all but one opponent to under 40% shooting.

Moreover, with the emergence of newcomers such as Femi Funeus, Lani Cornfield and Jacorriah Bracey, the weight has been lifted off guard Domonique Davis' shoulders a bit from

the start of the season. Sophomore forward Melyia Grayson has started to find her rhythm as well.

Southern Miss showed areas of concern to begin the season, but the team has been cool and collected and has shown they have a legitimate shot to make a run in Pensacola this March.

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Head coach Will Hall holds the LendingTree Bowl trophy on Dec. 17, 2022.

USM women’s head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. Charlie Luttrell | 4th Street Sports Producer

Southern Miss beach volleyball joins Sun Belt as league adds sport

CHARLIE

LUTTRELL SM2 SPORTS REPORTER

MSouthern Miss Beach Volleyball has found a new home as the Sun Belt Conference announced it will add beach volleyball as its 19th sponsored sport, starting with the upcoming 2023 season.

When Southern Miss made the move to the Sun Belt in 2022, Southern Miss Beach Volleyball’s future competition was unclear. Southern Miss entered its first season sponsored under Conference USA in 2022 after previously competing in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA).

But now, the Sun Belt’s decision to sponsor beach volleyball has made the conference home to all of Southern Miss’ programs.

“We haven’t really had a concrete home, which makes it really hard to plan and guide your program,” Southern Miss Head Coach Shawn Taylor said. “That enthusiasm from the conference- we’re looking forward to it and to what the Sun Belt brings.”

Southern Miss is one of the Sun Belt institutions that sponsor beach

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Men's Basketball

Before the break, the Southern Miss men's basketball team showed glimpses of what they could indeed be when it came to tournament time in March. Now, three weeks later, they are playing at their all-time high.

The last home game for Southern Miss before the break was against the Montana Grizzlies, in a match where the Golden Eagles cruised to victory 64-54 to start season 8-0. The game after that, they dropped their first matchup of the season against Northwestern State on a buzzer-beater.

After that, they went on a stretch over the break where they picked up big wins against Lamar (twice) and McNeese State. Then they dropped a challenging road game at UNLV right before Christmas. On December 29, Sun Belt conference play started, and the Golden Eagles got on the right track with a win over Troy 64-60. In the next game versus Appalachian State, Austin Crowley had a career night that lifted Southern Miss over the Mountaineers 76-70 to start 2-0 in conference play.

volleyball, along with Coastal Carolina, Georgia State and the University of Louisiana Monroe. To round out the new conference, the Sun Belt is adding affiliate members College of Charleston, Mercer, Stephen F. Austin and UNC Wilmington to form the eight-

Over the next two weeks, Southern Miss split their four-game road swing. They won at ULM (65-60) and Arkansas State (74-57) but dropped the games at Louisiana (61-75) and Marshall (67-89).

However, the team is back on the winning track again after winning their last two games at home, South Alabama (76-72) and James Madison (83-70).

The chemistry the team is playing with is at an all-time high. The Golden Eagles got Neftali Alverez back after his injury, and he impacted the James Madison game. Him, along with Felipe Hasse and DeAndre Pinckney, playing well has made this team dangerous as they inch closer to tournament play. They sit atop the Sun Belt standings with an overall record of 17-4, 6-2 in the SBC.

Also, make sure you catch them out at Reed Green. Every crowd is growing larger than the last. The next home game is Thursday, January 26, at 7 p.m. when they take on Arkansas State.

All in all, these are exciting times for Southern Miss athletics. Make sure to tune into the 4TH Street Sports Show Mondays at five on WUSM to get all the up-to-date information.

team league.

“When you look at the teams, whether it’s the Sun Belt teams or the affiliates that are going to help comprise this conference, there’s a lot of parity and it’s going to be good, competitive volleyball across the board,”

Taylor said.

Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill spoke highly about the sport’s potential to grow and its established prominence in the region, which is something Southern Miss represents as being the first Division One team to host a beach volleyball match in Mississippi when the program was born in 2019.

“Beach volleyball is a great geographic fit for the Sun Belt. There are 176 institutions that sponsor beach volleyball at all levels and 55 of those programs are within the ten-state footprint of the Sun Belt,” Gill said. “I can’t say enough about just how excited we are to start beach volleyball and to really get it going with a sport that is important in our region and growing as fast as it is.”

The Sun Belt will co-host a conference championship with the CCSA from April 27-29, 2023 in Huntsville, Ala. The winner of the championship earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, which will take place in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Southern Miss finished 11-26 last season and 1-3 in C-USA. They begin play in the 2023 FAU March Invitational in Boca Raton, Fla. on Mar. 3.

Southern Miss Beach Volleyball joins Sun Belt this year. Sean Smith | SM2 Photo Editor

Southern Miss guard Neftali Alvarez celebrates with fans at a recent game. Charlie Luttrell | 4th Streets Sports Producer