Salem , known athletically as the Spirits , is a member of the NCAA Division III ; and competes in the USA South Athletic Conference . Salem College did not move into the USA South Athletic conference until the 2016-2017 school year . Before the change , Salem 's athletics teams were in the GSAC ( Great South Athletic Conference ) . Currently , basketball , cross-country , soccer , softball , lacrosse , tennis , and volleyball exist on campus as NCAA varsity sports . Cheerleading is noted as their only club sport . Salem 's basketball team won the regional championship in February 2007 . In 2013 Salem ended the season with the most wins in basketball history at 17-11 . The soccer team won the regional championship in 2008 , and has compiled a 49-18-3 record over the last four years . In 2011 the soccer team was Meredith Classic Runners-Up . The Salem College soccer team in 2013 was one of only 88 teams in both men 's and women 's soccer for all NCAA divisions to earn the Team Ethics Award presented by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America . The cross country team would end the year in second place for 2013 . The softball season for 2013 ended with Best Record ( 14-22 ) and Best Great South Record ( 9-7 ) . The volleyball team went to the NCAA Tournament and won the Great South Athletic Conference Tournament for the 1st time . The Spirits had 4 players on the Great South All-Conference team , 1 player on the GSAC All-Freshmen team , and 2 players on the GSAC All-Academic Team . The 2019 softball team is currently well into their first season with interim head coach Kierston Garner . Before the 2018-2019 school year Scott Long held the position of head coach since the program began . Under his tenure , he collected over 100 wins as head coach . Kierston Garner was a four-time all conference selection under Scott Long . After winning the regular season conference title in 2018 , the softball team is hoping to repeat and receive a bid into the NCAA post-season tournament . The softball team has not reached the tournament since 2015 . Other team honors and awards include : Among its alumnae is Sarah Childress Polk , wife of U.S. President James Knox Polk . The daughter of Chief John Ross , Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation , was attending Salem College prior to her withdrawal to accompany her family on the Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
Salem College