INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College volleyball team is ranked seventh in this week's NCAA Division II Southeast Region Poll announced officials. The Pioneers (17-12, 8-7 in South Atlantic Conference) are making their regional poll debut this season and are one of five SAC teams listed in this week's rankings.

Wingate University is the top-ranked team in the poll once again. Flager College is second for a second straight time, while USC Aiken climbs a spot to third and Armstrong Atlantic State University falls one to fourth. Carson-Newman College is up two spots to No. 5, while Lincoln Memorial University remains sixth. Tusculum is the only newcomer to the poll at No. 7, followed by Lander University, University of Montevallo and Catawba College to round out the rankings.

Conference tournament champions from the SAC, Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas will earn automatic bids to next month's NCAA Division II Tournament. Five more teams from the region will receive at-large bids to the eight-team region tournament. Region selections will be announced on Nov. 15.

The Pioneers will host Brevard College this Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in TC's league finale this year. Tusculum will host the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament, Nov. 13-15 with the winner of the single-elimination tournament earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

- NCAA -

NCAA Division II Southeast Region Volleyball Rankings
Rk. Team Prv.
1 Wingate 1
2 Flagler 2
3 USC Aiken 4
4 Armstrong Atlantic State 3
5 Carson-Newman 7
6 Lincoln Memorial 6
7 TUSCULUM NR
8 Lander 10
9 Montevallo 9
10 Catawba 5