TEMPE, Ariz. --- The Tusculum women's tennis team is ranked 21st in the February installment of the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II Women's National Team Rankings, which were released this week.

The Pioneers (4-0) climbed into the national rankings after defeating then-22nd ranked North Georgia 7-2 on Saturday. The victory marked the seventh straight season that Tusculum has defeated at least one ranked opponent, and helped pushed the Pioneers into the ITA poll for the fifth year in a row.

The #21 ranking equals the highest ever for Tusculum's women's team in the ITA Division II poll, matching the 2004 team that opened the season with 20 consecutive wins and won the South Atlantic Conference regular-season and tournament championships before finishing 22nd in the final rankings.

Lynn is the top-ranked team in the ITA Division II rankings, followed by Barry, Columbus State, Hawaii Pacific and West Florida. The Pioneers are one of two SAC teams in the poll, joined by Wingate which is ranked 20th. The teams will meet for their regular-season match on Saturday, March 24 at Wingate.

Tusculum, which last month was ranked sixth in the ITA Southeast Region poll, will resume its spring schedule on Saturday, March 3 on the road against Bluefield State.