INDIANAPOLIS - After its upset victory over fourth-seeded Newberry last week in the opening round of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament, Anderson University women's tennis moved up one position to ninth in the final installment of the NCAA Southeast Regional Rankings before the Selection Show next Tuesday, announced by the NCAA on Wednesday.
The Trojans moved up one position after being slotted 10th last week, as they eliminated Newberry from the SAC Tournament with a 5-4 win. The Wolves, who were ranked No. 9 last week, dropped one spot to 10th in this week's poll.
Anderson boasts a 15-6 overall record and saw its SAC Tournament campaign cut short a day after the opening-round win when the Black and Gold was blanked by top-seeded and eventual tournament champion, Wingate, 5-0. The setback marked the second time this season the Bulldogs claimed a win over AU.
Anderson's move in the poll was one of two shifts from last week's ranking, as conference rival Queens jumped one spot to seventh, while Tusculum fell to No. 8. The Royals knocked off the Pioneers in the semifinals of the SAC Tournament to advance to the final, but their tournament run was cut short by Wingate, 5-2. Despite the conference championship, the Bulldogs remained in the sixth position for the third straight week.
The top-six spots in the ranking remained the same, as the top-five slots are held by Peach Belt Conference teams. Armstrong (22-0) claimed the No. 1 slot, while Columbus State (14-2) landed second for the third straight week. Georgia College (15-4) earned the No. 3 spot, as Flagler (11-7) remained fourth. GRU Augusta (15-4) rounded out the streak of consecutive PBC teams and landed in fifth.
In the Southeast Region, the tournament champions from the South Atlantic Conference, Peach Belt, and Conference Carolinas will receive an automatic bid, with five more at-large selections. The eight Southeast Region teams that earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament are the most by any region, as 48 teams from across the country move on to the annual postseason tournament.
The NCAA Women's Tennis Selection Show is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 at 8:30 p.m. Fans can view the Show live on NCAA.com.
NCAA Southeast Regional Rankings
1. Armstrong, 22-0
2. Columbus State, 14-2
3. Georgia College, 15-4
4. Flagler, 11-7
5. GRU Augusta, 15-4
6. Wingate, 16-1
7. Queens, 16-3
8. Tusculum, 17-2
9. Anderson, 15-6
10. Newberry, 14-5
FULL
RANKINGS
