Bluefield, VA –It was an emotional and triumphant day for Bluefield University women's volleyball, as the Rams celebrated some major milestones, honored Montreat College's seniors, and wrapped up their regular season with two impressive victories. The Rams hosted Senior Night in the Dome Gymnasium, defeating Montreat and Kentucky Christian University (KCU) in straight sets, 3-0, in both matches.

Milestone Celebrations
Before the start of the first match against Montreat, Bluefield honored two key seniors for their individual milestones. Georgia Lewis surpassed 2,000 career digs in a recent win against Tennessee Wesleyan, and Nayerly Jimenez reached the impressive 3,000-assist mark. Both players received a warm reception from their teammates, coaches, and fans, marking a memorable day for the Rams.

Senior Libero Georgia Lewis shared her emotions after the ceremony, saying, "The last four years playing for Bluefield have been some of the best times of my life. I have made best friends for life, played with amazing people, and hit some big milestones. Getting 2,000 digs doesn't even seem real, and to get it in my last few games at Bluefield really makes it that much sweeter. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the season."

Nayerly Jimenez, a two-time AAC Setter of the Week, also celebrated her achievement, surpassing 3,000 career assists. Jimenez has been instrumental in setting up the Rams' offense throughout the season, and her leadership has been critical to Bluefield's success.

Rams Sweep Montreat
In the first match of the day, Bluefield faced Montreat in a conference contest. With both teams battling hard, Bluefield came out on top, sweeping Montreat in three sets: 25-15, 25-17, 25-17.
Game leaders for the Rams included:

• Kills: Joslyn Evans (11), Chesed Russell (10), Liangelys Santana (6)
• Aces: Madison Rodabaugh (2), Liangelys Santana (2), Eledy Torres (2)
• Blocks: Joslyn Evans (5), Davina Lopez (3), Liangelys Santana (2)
• Assists: Nayerly Jimenez (29), Georgia Lewis (3), Madison Rodabaugh (2)
• Digs: Madison Rodabaugh (11), Liangelys Santana (10), Eledy Torres (10)

Bluefield's dominant offense and defense were on full display as they cruised past Montreat. Chesed Russell continued her stellar performance, leading the team with 10 kills, while Joslyn Evans added five blocks to keep the pressure on Montreat's offense.

Montreat vs. Kentucky Christian
In the second match of the day, Montreat faced Kentucky Christian University, with Bluefield stepping in to help celebrate Montreat's Senior Night after Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to the Montreat campus. Montreat, despite the challenges of the past few weeks, earned a 3-0 victory over KCU, sweeping them in three sets
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Buddy Gallemore, Bluefield University's head coach, expressed his admiration for Montreat's resilience, saying, "I think today was a great day for the AAC and for volleyball. Montreat's team and school have endured so much over the last six weeks. We were just happy to be able to bring a little light into their lives and for their families. Part of my coaching philosophy is to create experiences for my players. Today, Bluefield University got the honor of creating an experience for Montreat's players, coaches, and families. God is good!"

Georgia Lewis also shared her thoughts on helping Montreat celebrate, "I'm glad we could help Montreat celebrate their Senior Night after all they've been through this year. Those girls deserve it, and I couldn't be happier being a little part of that!"

Rams End Regular Season with Sweep of KCU
The final match of the day saw Bluefield take on Kentucky Christian University (KCU) in their last regular-season game before the AAC Tournament. The Rams came out strong, dispatching KCU in straight sets: 25-21, 25-15, 25-15.

Game Leaders for Bluefield:

• Kills: Chesed Russell (13), Abbey Boehm (10), Liangelys Santana (6)
• Aces: Nayerly Jimenez (4), Abbey Boehm (2), Madison Rodabaugh (1)
• Blocks: Liangelys Santana (2), Davina Lopez (2), Camille Gonzalez Rivera (2)
• Assists: Nayerly Jimenez (35), Izabella Lechuga (3), Eledy Torres (2)
• Digs: Georgia Lewis (16), Liangelys Santana (14), Nayerly Jimenez (9)

Chesed Russell led the offensive charge with 13 kills, while Nayerly Jimenez orchestrated the attack with 35 assists. Georgia Lewis, once again, was a defensive standout, recording 16 digs to anchor the back row.

With the victory, Bluefield wrapped up their regular season with an impressive 19-12 overall record, including 14-7 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). The team now turns its focus to the AAC Tournament, set for November 14-16 at the Meadowview Conference Center in Kingsport, TN. The Rams will open tournament play against Johnson University on November 15th at 4:00 PM. All tournament games will be streamed live and free of charge.
 
Looking Ahead
After a strong finish to the regular season, the Rams look to make a run in the conference tournament. The team will enter postseason play with momentum, a powerful offense, and a defense led by standout senior Georgia Lewis.

As Lewis puts it, "These last two home games were so sentimental for me. I got to play my last games in the Dome with my sisters and go out with a bang. But we're not done yet!"

With the AAC Tournament just around the corner, the Bluefield Rams are focused on finishing their season strong and capturing the title.
Go Rams!