SSAC Adds Women's Beach Volleyball As Championship Sport For 2026-27; SMC to Join New Conference

Release courtesy of SSAC - Matthew Hicks

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern States Athletic Conference announced the addition of women's beach volleyball as a championship sport beginning in 2026-27. Five SSAC members sponsor the sport, with two additional schools joining as affiliate members.
 
Competing Teams: Brewton-Parker Christian, Loyola, Mobile, William Carey, Wesleyan, Spartanburg Methodist, Truett McConnell
 
Women's beach volleyball is a NAIA Invitational sport with 32 teams competing in 2025-26. The location of the SSAC Championship is to be determined. 
 
Mike Hall, SSAC Commissioner: "Adding women's beach volleyball as an SSAC championship sport expands opportunities for our student-athletes and allows our institutions to compete within a tighter geographic footprint. We look forward to providing a memorable championship experience."
 
Key Dates
April 10: Deadline to conclude conference tournaments
April 22-24: NAIA Invitational Championship
 
About the SSAC
The SSAC is one of the premier NAIA conferences, founded in 1999, with 12 member institutions across Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The Montgomery, Ala.-based conference sponsors 20 intercollegiate sports, culminating in 20 neutral-site conference championship events held annually throughout the Southeastern region of the United States.