BLUEFIELD, Va. - The Bluefield College women's volleyball team began their final week of regular-season play against Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Montreat, Tuesday night at Dome Gymnasium and dropped a four-set match to the visiting Cavaliers 27-29, 25-22, 23-25, 23-25.
In game one Montreat rolled out to an 11-5 lead before the Rams, with Mikaela Hurst serving, scored five straight to pull to within one. Bluefield tied the set at 12 on a soft kill by Kayla Via, then took its first lead at 17-16 and later 19-18. The Rams' biggest lead was two points, 20-18 at which Montreat called time. Bluefield came within a point of the game, taking a 24-22 lead on a Rachel Alley kill, but Montreat after a time out rallied for three stright to go on top 25-24. BC drew even at 25 and Montreat took a 26-25 lead on a questionable out-of-bounds call. The Rams tied the game at 26 and went ahead 27-26, but the Cavaliers scored the set's final three points to take a 29-27 win. It was the highest scoring game of the season for Bluefield.
The Rams took the early lead in game two going up three on a Camry McCroskey kill. Bluefield maintained the three point lead until Montreat cut it to one at 13-12. BC went back ahead by three on a McCroskey block and the lead grew to six on Lexie Austin's kill. Montreat scored four unanswered to come to within two but Bluefield held on and took the 25-22 win when the Montreat return sailed out of bounds.
Montreat came out charging in game three before the Rams stormed back and tied the game at nine on Hurst's kill. Bluefield's lead grew as high as five on Via's block at 15-10, but the Cavaliers went on an 8-3 run and tied the game at 18. There were ties at 21 and 22 before the visitors took the 25-23 win.
Facing elimination Bluefield drew even at five and later seven and took an 8-7 lead on Hurst's kill. The Rams' lead was as high as three before Montreat tied the game at 15. The small, but raucous crowd was on its feet after several questionable calls gave points to Montreat who broke a 22-all tie and went on to win the game 25-23 and the match three games to one.
Morrow had 18 kills for Bluefield. Johnson picked up 12 and Alley 11. McCroskey had 40 assists and 16 digs, while Ashlyn VanDyke had 16 digs and Morrow added 13.
Montreat is now 7-24 overall and 5-12 in the AAC. Bluefield is 12-16 in all games and 7-11 in the AAC. The Rams will host Tennessee Wesleyan, Friday night and will honor its seniors.