TEMPE, Ariz. --- The Intercollegiate Tennis Association has released its first Division II National Computer Rankings of the spring season, and the Tusculum University men's tennis team was ranked 38th in Thursday's announcement.
Senior Frank Bonacia was ranked 43rd in singles for the Pioneers, who are 6-4 overall and 3-1 in the South Atlantic Conference through Monday. Tusculum was ranked 23rd in the Division II preseason coaches poll, but dropped out of the February 17 rankings.
Tusculum's four losses have come to teams ranked inside the ITA Division II Top 50 -- Lee (14th), Charleston (18th), Wingate (31st) and Belmont Abbey (32nd). In addition to Tusculum and Wingate, SAC schools in the Top 50 are Carson-Newman (23rd), Anderson (39th), Lenoir-Rhyne (45th) and Queens (50th). Also ranked this week is non-conference opponent North Georgia (13th), which will face Tusculum on March 25 at the Nichols Tennis Complex.
Bonacia, who was 32nd in the national preseason singles rankings, has a 12-5 record in singles for the Pioneers this season. Bonacia, who advanced to the quarterfinals of the ITA Southeast Region tournament in the fall, is 4-3 in dual matches and 3-1 in conference play. The Rome, Italy native is 3-3 against players ranked in either the preseason or current national singles polls this season.
The ITA Rankings Algorithm is based on an accumulation of win points and loss points, accounting for a win-loss record, the strength of schedule, and the depth/significance of wins and losses. As the season progresses, the value of each win and loss adjusts to reflect the most recent ranking of the opponent.
The ITA will release a Top 50 National Team Ranking, Top 75 National Singles Ranking and Top 50 National Doubles Ranking each week through April 25, with the final national and regional rankings unveiled in late May following the conclusion of the NCAA Division II Championship.
Tusculum was scheduled to host Lincoln Memorial on Saturday at the Nichols Tennis Complex, but the match has been postponed due to the impending winter weather. A reschedule date has not been determined.
