TEMPE, Ariz. --- The Tusculum University women's tennis team is ranked 45th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II National Team Ranking, the ITA announced Thursday.

The Pioneers (7-3, 2-2 South Atlantic Conference) were unranked in the Top 25 coaches poll from February 17, but have gone 4-2 since then to climb in the computerized rankings. All three of the Pioneers' losses have come to teams included in this week's rankings.

Tusculum is one of seven SAC schools in the National Team Rankings this week. Queens is ranked ninth, followed by Newberry in 16th, Wingate in 18th, Lincoln Memorial in 20th, Lenoir-Rhyne in 31st, Carson-Newman in 35th and Tusculum in 45th. Other Tusculum opponents that are ranked including North Georgia in 5th and Charleston (W.Va.) in 25th.

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, and again following completion of the NCAA Division II Championship in late May.

Tusculum was scheduled to return to action on Saturday against 20th-ranked Lincoln Memorial at the Nichols Tennis Complex, but the match will be rescheduled due to winter weather expected to move through the area Friday night.