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Salem College to break ground on new tennis center

Salem College to break ground on new tennis center
Posted: Dec 02, 2015

Salem Academy and College will break ground for a new tennis facility on Wednesday, December 2, at 4:00 pm.

"The deteriorating condition of our tennis courts has necessitated the planning of a new facility, which will provide a much-improved space in which our student-athletes will practice and compete," said D. E. Lorraine Sterritt, President of Salem Academy and College.

A new tennis center was announced as a priority in Salem's Women of Purpose campaign in March 2015.

"A premier tennis facility will attract premier student-athletes," said Salem Academy Director of Athletics Lorie Howard. For the last two years, every member of the Academy's varsity tennis team has been named to the Triad Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference list, maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.5. 

During the 2014 season, College tennis coach Kevin Fleck was named as the Great South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. "In addition to our already-strong tennis program, Salem College will join the USA South Athletic Conference next school year," said Salem College Director of Athletics Melissa Barrett. "This is the ideal time to complete construction of a new tennis facility, as Salem will soon be hosting USA South student-athletes on our campus."

The new tennis facility, which was named in May 2015 through a gift from an anonymous donor, will honor Salem College professor Norbert F. "Bert" Lain in recognition of his lifelong support of women's education, including the education that takes place on athletic courts and fields. 

The construction and planning team for the project includes Frank L. Blum Construction Company and Stimmel Associates, who recently collaborated with Salem on the construction of McHugh Sisters Flats—a new apartment-style residence on campus.

Construction of the tennis facility is an $800,000 initiative of Salem Academy and College's Women of Purpose campaign, which has raised more than $33 million of its $60 million goal. 

The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking for the tennis center, which will take place on Wednesday, December 2, at 4:00 pm at 790 East Salem Avenue—at the construction site.