July 16, 2007 
Contact: Mike Christie, Sports Information Director

Mary Baldwin College and Meredith College Join USA South

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - On July 1, 2007, the USA South Athletic Conference officially added two new members. Mary Baldwin College and Meredith College became the ninth and tenth full-time conference members. The two all-female institutions and their athletes will be immediately eligible for conference championships, NCAA post season play and all USA South awards.

"The USA South Athletic Conference is pleased to welcome both Mary Baldwin and Meredith into the Conference," stated Commissioner Rita Wiggs.  "We value the academic reputations and athletic profiles that they represent. We look forward to working with all the constituencies at each college."

Mary Baldwin, the Fighting Squirrels, a previous member of the Atlantic Women’s Colleges Conference, is located in Staunton, Virginia and is home to 806 undergraduate women. The private four-year liberal arts college is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley on 54 acres of rolling hills.

"The department of Athletics and Wellness at Mary Baldwin College looks forward to full membership in the USA South," said Mary Baldwin Director of Athletics Sharon Spalding. "The membership will allow our coaches, staff and student athletes to be recognized for their efforts."

Meredith, the Angels, previously a part of the Association of Division III Independents, is located on a 225-acre campus set on the western edge of Raleigh, North Carolina. Meredith is an independent private college which offers a comprehensive education with an emphasis on an innovative liberal arts curriculum.

"We are very excited about the tremendous opportunities that conference membership will afford our student-athletes," stated Meredith Director of Athletics Jackie Myers. "We've competed successfully with the majority of the teams in the past and look forward to seeing our name among the conference rankings soon!"

Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels http://www.mbc.edu/athletics/	Meredith College Angels http://www.meredith.edu/athletics/default.htm