INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College women's tennis team has earned an at-large bid to the 2009 NCAA Division II Tournament announced officials Wednesday. Tusculum's first round opponent will be a familiar one as the Pioneers (17-5) face arch-rival Carson-Newman College (13-2). The match will be played Thursday, May 7th on the campus of Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga. Match time has yet to be determined.

Tusculum, under the direction of eighth-year head coach Tommy Arnett, will be making its second straight NCAA postseason appearance and seventh overall.

The Pioneers won the previous meeting against the Lady Eagles, 6-3 on March 22nd in Greeneville. Tusculum has won nine of its last 11 matches, including the win over C-N as the Pioneers won the South Atlantic Conference Championship, the program's fourth SAC title in school history.

Carson-Newman is riding a nine-match winning streak, with its last loss coming against Tusculum. C-N punched its ticket to the NCAA Southeast Regional by winning the Food Lion SAC Tournament for the first time in school history.

The winner of the Tusculum/Carson-Newman match will face defending national champion and host Armstrong Atlantic (22-1) on Friday, May 8th. Also playing in the five-team Southeast Sub-Regional are Clayton State University (9-4) and Augusta State University (13-7). The sub-region final will be held on Saturday, May 9th on the AASU campus.

During the Coach Arnett era, the Pioneers have won 15 or more matches, eight consecutive years. Tusculum's 17 wins this season are tied for the third most in school history.

- NCAA -

NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Southeast Sub-Regional
Armstrong Atlantic State University â-ª Savannah, Ga.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tusculum (17-5) vs. Carson-Newman (13-2), TBA

Friday, May 8, 2009
Tusculum/Carson-Newman winner vs. Armstrong Atlantic State (22-1), TBA
Clayton State (9-4) vs. Augusta State (13-7), TBA

Saturday, May 9, 2009
TC/C-N vs. AASU winner vs. Clayton St./Augusta State winner, TBA