TEMPE, Ariz. --- The Tusculum University women's tennis team has moved back into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II National Team Rankings at 58th this week, the ITA has announced.

The ITA expanded its team rankings from the top 50 to the top 75 this week, allowing the Pioneers to move into the national poll for the first time since mid-March, when Tusculum was ranked 48th overall.

The Pioneers (11-6, 6-4 South Atlantic Conference) are one of eight SAC schools in this week's rankings. Joining Tusculum are Wingate (11th), Queens (12th), Newberry (19th), Carson-Newman (27th), Lenoir-Rhyne (29th), Lincoln Memorial (39th) and Anderson (52nd). The Pioneers are 2-4 against those seven teams this season, with a match with Lincoln Memorial coming up on Sunday.

Barry is the top-ranked team in the women's ITA Division II survey, followed by Nova Southeastern, Saint Leo, Columbus State and Central Oklahoma. Tusculum non-conference opponents that are ranked this week are North Georgia (9th) and Charleston (24th).

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 Lincoln Memorial on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. at the Nichols Tennis Complex. Prior to the match, the team will honor senior Emilie Hansen who has 41 singles victories and 56 doubles wins in her four-year Pioneer career.