INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College volleyball continues to be listed sixth in this week's NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings. The Pioneers are one of seven South Atlantic Conference teams listed in this week's poll.

The top six spots remain the same with Armstrong Atlantic, Wingate, Flagler, Lincoln Memorial, Catawba and Tusculum holding position. Newberry makes its first appearance in the region rankings this year and are ranked seventh. Carson-Newman dropped one spot to eighth, while Lenoir-Rhyne and USC Aiken are listed ninth and tenth, respectively to round out the poll.

Tournament champions of the South Atlantic Conference, Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas will receive automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. There will also be five at-large bids to the NCAA postseason, which begins Nov. 17 at campus sites.

Tusculum (17-11, 10-8 SAC) is in quest of its third straight NCAA Tournament berth.

The NCAA II volleyball statistics have also been released as the Pioneers are third in the nation in digs per set (19.59 dps) and 46th in kills per set (13.04 kps).

Sophomore libero Caitlyn Dean is third in the country in digs per set with a 6.36 average entering this week's action. Not counted in this week's report is Tuesday's school-record 49 digs against Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday. Sophomore setter Ashley Sarmiento is also 36th in the land in assists per set (10.42 aps). Not included in her average is her career-best 61 assists against LMU.

Tusculum returns to action Nov. 11-13 as the Pioneers travel to Harrogate, Tenn. for the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament, hosted by Lincoln Memorial. Official bracket and pairings will be announced later this weekend.

- NCAA -

NCAA II Volleyball Southeast Region Rankings
Rk. Team Prv.
1 Armstrong Atlantic State 1
2 Wingate 2
3 Flagler 3
4 Lincoln Memorial 4
5 Catawba 5
6 TUSCULUM 6
7 Newberry NR
8 Carson-Newman 7
9 Lenoir-Rhyne 9
10 USC Aiken 10

Tusculum Opponents in Italics