For the third consecutive year Foley Sports Tourism is welcoming back three fall Sun Belt Conference Championships. While the lineup of events is familiar, there’s always something new to get fans excited.
Cross Country
In the first year in Foley, record times were set for both men and women during the Cross Country Championships. In 2023, one of those record-breakers, Molly Jones of Coastal Carolina University, repeated her success and earned her second consecutive title. She is likely to return to Graham Creek Nature Preserve on November 1 and will be one to watch as a third win would tie the conference record for individual titles.
Soccer
The Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Championship has adjusted its format. It will be an 8-team direct elimination bracket, meaning it’s all on the line every game. Old Dominion University has won the title every year since entering the conference in 2022. But with the new format, seeding will be important and ODU got off to a slow start in regular-season play. The quarterfinals kick off on November 4 and the action continues until a champion is crowned under the lights of the Foley Championship stadium on November 9.
Volleyball
The Sun Belt Volleyball Championship also got a format change. Only the top ten teams in the conference will be making the trip to Foley. The first round takes place on Thursday, November 21 with Youth Night. Any local volleyball players will get into the games for free when they wear their jerseys. Teams that advance will have to be fearless and swiftly take everything from the night before and shake it off to get their names moved up into the blank space on the bracket on November 22 which will also be Eras Night themed. Fans not only get to experience incredible volleyball action but also the opportunity to make friendship bracelets and enjoy music Taylor made by one of the most popular artists in the world. The competition wraps when a champion is crowned on November 24.
Building on Success
Since hosting its first Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Championship in 2016, the partnership between Foley Sports Tourism and the Sun Belt Conference has continued to grow. It has expanded to three fall championships, and there are talks of additional events being added in the future.
City of Foley Executive Director of Leisure Services David Thompson said it’s not just about adding more events; it’s about continuing to improve upon the ones that currently call Foley home.
“We love working with the Sun Belt Conference because we both operate the same way. Even after a wildly successful event, we look back and try to find ways to make it even better,” Thompson said. “Thanks to new and exciting adjustments like theme nights and format changes, no two years will ever be the same. We want everyone from fans to players to coaches leaving these events already thinking about when they get to come back.”
Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill said while the upcoming month will be full of exhilarating action, there’s more to come in just a few months.
“We are excited to crown four Sun Belt Conference champions in Foley this fall, as part of our long-term partnership with Foley Sports Tourism and the City of Foley,” said Gill. “This partnership has enabled us to elevate the championship experiences for our student-athletes in men’s and women’s cross country, women’s soccer and volleyball and we look forward to adding beach volleyball to that list in Spring 2025.”
All Sun Belt Conference Championship action will be streamed live on ESPN+. For more information on any of the Sun Belt Conference Foley Championships contact Stephanie Donald.