TEMPE, Ariz. --- The Tusculum University men's tennis team gained eight spots to 27th in this week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II National Team Rankings, the ITA announced Wednesday.
The Pioneers are 10-4 overall and have won five consecutive matches, including South Atlantic Conference wins over Lincoln Memorial (7-0), 37th-ranked Limestone (4-3) and UVA Wise (7-0) last week. Tusculum is 6-0 in the SAC and tied for first place in the conference with Wingate.
In singles, Rhodri Atkinson slipped from 44th back to 57th place after going 2-1 last week. The Longhope, England native and Lenoir-Rhyne transfer is 14-5 overall this season, 11-3 in dual matches and 5-1 in conference play for the Pioneers.
Tusculum is the highest-ranked team from the SAC in the ITA rankings this week, and is joined by Anderson (33rd), Wingate (36th), Carson-Newman (37th) and Limestone (46th). The Pioneers own wins over Carson-Newman and Limestone, with matches upcoming against Anderson on April 4 and Wingate on April 7.
Non-conference opponents of the Pioneers who are ranked this week include Lee (7th), Flagler (16th), North Georgia (21st), Young Harris (39th) and Charleston (43rd). The Pioneers went 1-4 against that group, with their lone win coming against Charleston by a 4-3 score on Feb. 10.
The Pioneers will travel to Lenoir-Rhyne for a match with the Bears on Friday at 2 p.m. Lenoir-Rhyne has won two straight matches and is in a three-way tie for fifth place in the SAC with Lincoln Memorial and Limestone at 4-3, with a 6-11 overall record.