TEMPE, Ariz. --- Tusculum University is tied for 26th in the most recent Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II Men's Team Rankings.
The Pioneers ended the 2021 season at 17-4 overall after winning the program's first South Atlantic Conference tournament championship since 2008 and qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in 13 years. Tusculum went 4-4 against teams included in the latest rankings, including wins over Queens (23rd), Anderson (32nd), Lee (42nd) and Lenoir-Rhyne (45th), and also had victories against Belmont Abbey and Bluefield State which received votes.
Tusculum was third in the SAC regular season with a 9-2 conference record, then defeated Lincoln Memorial, Queens and Anderson in a three-day span to earn the SAC Tournament title and capture an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Pioneers lost to Wingate 4-1 in the Southeast Region opening round on Friday.
Tusculum is one of five SAC teams in the rankings, joining Wingate (19th), Queens, Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne. The Pioneers are tied with Midwestern State at 26th in the latest rankings after receiving votes in the last survey released in mid-April.