TEMPE, Ariz. --- The Tusculum University men's tennis team is included in the 2023 preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II Collegiate Team Rankings, the ITA announced Friday.

The Pioneers are among 11 programs listed as receiving votes outside the Top 25, which is voted on by the ITA National Ranking Committee. Tusculum finished 13-8 in 2022 and was ranked 31st in the final ITA Division II poll, marking the third time in the last four complete seasons that the Pioneers ended the year nationally ranked.

Tusculum had several players ranked in the ITA Division II Southeast Region at the conclusion of the fall season, with Rhodri Atkinson ranked ninth in singles and Frank Bonacia ranked 19th in singles. In doubles, Bonacia and Marco Jalalian were ranked 10th in the region at the end of the fall.

Defending national champion Barry received all nine first-place votes to take the top spot in the preseason poll, followed by Columbus State, Saint Leo, Flagler and Wayne State in the top five.

Tusculum is scheduled to play five matches against preseason ranked teams, with non-conference contests against No. 4 Flagler (March 9), No. 11 North Georgia (Feb. 18) and No. 20 Charleston (Feb. 10), and South Atlantic Conference matches with No. 18 Wingate (Apr. 7), and No. 21 Anderson (Mar. 3).

The Pioneers, who went 2-0 in dual matches during the fall, begin their spring season on Saturday, Feb. 4 with an exhibition at UNC Asheville before taking on Lee on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Nichols Tennis Complex.