TEMPE, Ariz. --- The Tusculum men's tennis team has moved up to 31st in this week's Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II National Team Rankings, the ITA has announced.

The Pioneers (13-4, 4-2 South Atlantic Conference) climbed seven positions from 38th after defeating Mars Hill (8-1) and Lenoir-Rhyne (6-3) in conference matches last week. Tusculum has won five consecutive matches, including 5-4 wins over currently ranked teams Young Harris (27th) on March 16 and Lincoln Memorial (44th) on March 21.

Three of Tusculum's four losses have come to teams currently ranked in the ITA Division II Top 50, including Bluefield State (13th) by a 6-3 score on March 3, Palm Beach Atlantic (21st) by a score of 5-4 on March 9, and Anderson (29th) by a score of 7-2 on March 15.

Along with Tusculum, Anderson and Lincoln Memorial, a total of six SAC teams are in this week's ITA Top 50, including 16th-ranked Queens who will visit the Nichols Tennis Complex on Sunday, and 14th-ranked Wingate which will host the Pioneers on Monday. Newberry, which is ranked 38th, is Tusculum's last opponent of the regular season next Saturday, April 14.