AUGUSTA, GA -- The Peach Belt Conference and commissioner David Brunk are pleased to announce that Salem University will join the league as an associate member in volleyball starting in the fall of 2025.

"I'd like to thank president Paul Weber and athletic director Alex Joseph for working with us and agreeing to join the Peach Belt," said commissioner Brunk. "The addition of Salem as an associate member for volleyball is a great match for Salem and for the Peach Belt. We are pleased to be able to offer their student-athletes a conference championship experience while as a full Division II member, they allow us to continue forward as one of the strongest volleyball leagues in the nation."

"We are really excited to build this new relationship with the Peach Belt Conference," said Salem athletic director Alex Joseph. "From the new opportunity for postseason play to the increased visibility this will bring to our volleyball student-athletes, the Peach Belt Conference is a great fit for the Salem Tigers volleyball program. We would like to thank Commissioner Brunk and Deputy Commissioner Kling for their continued advice and support, and we look forward to competing for a Peach Belt Conference Championship next fall."

"Salem Volleyball is excited to have the opportunity to compete in the Peach Belt," said Salem head coach Matt Carpenter. "This is a big step forward for our program, and we are prepared to work hard to adapt to this new challenge. This is a fantastic opportunity for our team to compete in postseason play, and it will help us build our program in the future."

Located in Salem, W.V., the Tigers were an independent NCAA Division II team who play in a scheduling alliance with the Mountain East Conference. Founded in 1888, Salem's rich history of athletics dates back to their first football team which took the field in 1916.