SKILLMAN, N.J. – In the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II men's tennis rankings of 2009, USC Aiken's men's tennis team concluded the 2009 season still ranked a program-best fifth.

The Pacers had moved into the fifth position just prior to opening play in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional in Savannah, Ga. The Pacers' appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament marked the program's eighth NCAA Tournament appearance.

USC Aiken, who received a bye into the semifinal round of the Savannah regional of the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Tournament, defeated No. 18 Francis Marion to advance to the regional final against No. 1 Armstrong Atlantic.

The Pirates were able to claim the regional title, but the Pacers still concluded the year 19-5 overall. AASU went on to win its second straight national crown a couple weeks later.

The Pacers as a team won 13 of their final 15 matches in 2009.

USC Aiken is the second of two Peach Belt Conference teams ranked in the top five in the final regular season rankings of the 2009 season with national champion Armstrong Atlantic State No. 1. In total, three PBC schools are in the top 10 with Georgia College & State ranked seventh.