ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum University women's soccer team was picked tenth in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the league office announced Wednesday.

Senior defender Kenzie Ellenburg received preseason second-team All-SAC recognition in voting by the league's media relations offices.

The Pioneers turned in a 7-10-0 overall record in 2019 and finished 3-7-0 in the conference. Tusculum has not played a regular-season game since a 3-2 overtime loss to Carson-Newman on Nov. 6, 2019 in their final game of the 2019 season.

Ellenburg is a two-time SAC honorable mention choice, in both 2018 and 2019. The Mosheim, Tennessee native and Greeneville High School graduate started 16 matches during the 2019 campaign, scoring two goals and taking 20 shots. She helped anchor a defense that posted five shutouts during the 2019 season, including three in a row in mid-October.

Ellenburg, a four-year starter for the Pioneers, has played in 50 career matches and has three goals and one assist for seven points for the Pioneers.

The SAC will divide into three four-team pods for round-robin play during the 2021 spring season. After each team completes its series of six games, a full standings will be generated and the top four by points will advance to the SAC Championship tournament.

Wingate received seven first-place votes and earned 127 points in the preseason poll, followed by Lenoir-Rhyne with five first-place votes and 124 points and Carson-Newman in third with 96 points. Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne are in the same pod along with Catawba, which was picked fourth with 90 points.

Conference newcomer Limestone is the highest pick in its pod with 71 points, tying it for fifth with Lincoln Memorial. Queens is seventh with 70 points, trailed by Anderson (64 points) and Newberry (49) in ninth. Tusculum picked up 47 points in the survey, with Mars Hill (28 points) and Coker (22) rounding out the poll.

Tusculum will play in its pod along with Carson-Newman, Lincoln Memorial and Mars Hill. Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba and Coker comprise a second pod, with Limestone, Queens, Anderson and Newberry making up the third pod of four teams. The pods were divided geographically in order to reduce travel and missed class time for student-athletes.

The Pioneers will open their 2021 spring season with a non-conference match at Catawba on Thur., Feb. 18. Tusculum plays its league opener against Mars Hill on Thur., Feb. 25 at Pioneer Field.

2020-21 SAC Women's Soccer Preseason All-Conference
First Team
F – Emilee Futrell, Carson-Newman
F – Jessica Cravero, Lincoln Memorial
F – Nia Gaither, Queens
F – Sanne Martinsen, Mars Hill
MF – Jovana Sanchez, Catawba
MF – McKenna DeLong, Wingate
MF – Kristina Markfort, Carson-Newman
MF – Neve Duston, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Chandler Hendrix, Wingate
D – Katie Beck, Catawba
D – Aleisha Cruwys, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Kristen DeBiase, Wingate
GK – Erica Turner, Queens 

Second Team
F – Erin Cepeda, Anderson
F – Kaitlyn Cox, Wingate
F – Maddie Capel, Catawba
F – Emma Rose Stockton, Queens
MF – Jacqueline Aldrete, Newberry
MF – Lulu Phan, Queens
MF – Selina Boveleth, Limestone
MF – Jess LaFrancis, Wingate
D – Kenzie Ellenburg, Tusculum
D – Ria Acton, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Carly Veit, Wingate
D – Jente Kuper, Carson-Newman
GK – Madison Paige, Anderson