PHOTO GALLERY OF CONSTRUCTION (AS OF OCTOBER 9, 2024)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Fans and alumnae of Salem College will see a large amount of construction taking place approximately the next six weeks as the Department of Athletics is adding its beach volleyball courts outside Varsity Gym.
The construction, which is being performed by both Site Solutions of the Triad Inc., and South Beach Volleyball, will allow the Spirits' beach volleyball team to begin play in spring 2025.
The beach volleyball courts will join the Bert Lain Tennis Courts, Blixt Field (softball) and Varsity Field (soccer) as outdoor venues for Salem College athletics.
"We are thrilled to announce the start of construction for our beach volleyball facility here at Salem College," said Director of Athletics Michael Williams. "This project represents our commitment to offering unique opportunities for our student-athletes and elevating the competitiveness of our athletic programs. Providing this space will attract top talent, ensuring we can compete at a high level. This is just one of many steps in Salem College's ongoing growth and investment into both athletics and the broader campus community, and we couldn't be more excited about what's to come."
Beach volleyball was introduced to the Olympics as a demonstration sport in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and was officially added as a sport at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Twenty years later, the NCAA sanctioned beach volleyball for the 2016 season. The participating teams in NCAA beach volleyball are not recognized as NCAA Division I, II or III programs.
"I am very excited about starting the beach volleyball program," said head coach Barry Rymer. "It is a great opportunity to get involved in a growing sport. I am looking forward to working with some of our volleyball players to develop some new skills. I look forward to seeing how much we can develop the beach program over the next few years. I am very grateful to the college for supporting the program and helping to build the new sand courts. "
There are currently 93 NCAA beach programs across the national landscape with 29 programs located in the Southeastern United States.
