TEMPE, Ariz. --- The Tusculum University men's tennis team moved up to 33rd in this week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II National Team Rankings, the ITA announced Thursday.

The Pioneers (7-4, 4-1 South Atlantic Conference) climbed three spots in the rankings after defeating Limestone 5-2 on Saturday in their only match of the week.

Senior Frank Bonacia is ranked 60th in singles this week in singles after sitting at 43rd in each of the previous two rankings. Bonacia lost his only singles match of last week and dropped to 12-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The Rome, Italy native is 43-16 in his Tusculum career in singles.

Joining Tusculum in the ITA rankings out of the SAC are Carson-Newman in 24th, Wingate in 29th, Lenoir-Rhyne in 30th, and Anderson in 37th. Pioneer non-conference opponents ranked this week are North Georgia (7th), Lee (17th), Charleston (20th) and Belmont Abbey (27th). Tusculum is 1-4 against currently-ranked teams, with three more matches on the schedule against teams in this week's rankings.

Columbus State moved from third to first in this week's ITA computer rankings, with Barry dropping a spot to second and Saint Leo falling one position to third. Hawaii Pacific and Embry-Riddle make up the remainder of the top five.

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 Pioneers will host seventh-ranked North Georgia on Friday at 1 p.m. and Queens in a key SAC contest on Sunday at 10 a.m., both at the Nichols Tennis Complex. Tusculum is 3-0 at home this season and the Pioneers have won nine of their last 10 home matches since the start of the 2020-21 season.