INDIANAPOLIS --- For a fourth consecutive week, the Tusculum College volleyball team is listed third in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings.

The Pioneers (23-5, 16-2 SAC) are one of six South Atlantic Conference teams listed in this week's poll.

The top nine teams remains the same in this week's poll with Wingate holding down the top spot, followed by Flagler, Tusculum, Lincoln Memorial, Montevallo, Carson-Newman, Catawba, Lees-McRae and Anderson. The lone newcomer to this week's poll is Armstrong Atlantic State at the No. 10 spot.

Tusculum has posted a combined 8-3 record against teams listed in this week's rankings.

The tournament champions for the SAC, Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas earn an automatic bid to the eight-team Southeast Regional, while five at-large berths will also be awarded. The release of the NCAA Tournament field will be announced this weekend.

Tusculum finished second in the South Atlantic Conference this season and is the No. 2 seed in this weekend's Food Lion SAC Volleyball Tournament, which is being held this weekend at Goodman Gym on the campus of Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. The Pioneers will face No. 7 seed Mars Hill College in a quarterfinal round match this Friday at 5 p.m.

Tusculum is enjoying one of its best seasons in school history as a Division II member. After starting the season 1-2, Tusculum has won 22 of its next 25 matches, including a five-match winning streak entering this weekend's SAC Tournament.

- NCAA -

NCAA II Volleyball Southeast Region Poll
Rk. Team Prv.
1. Wingate 1
2. Flagler 2
3. TUSCULUM 3
4. Lincoln Memorial 4
5. Montevallo 5
6. Carson-Newman 6
7. Catawba 7
8. Lees-McRae 8
9. Anderson (S.C.) 9
10. Armstrong Atlantic St. NR

Tusculum opponents in italics