WALESKA, Ga. – The Bluefield University women's volleyball team was picked to finish 12^th in the Appalachian Athletic Conference 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the league office Thursday afternoon.
 
THE POLL

Place	Team (First-Place Votes)	Points
1.	Reinhardt (8)	190
2.	Columbia International (5)	153
3.	Milligan	152
4.	Johnson	140
5.	Union Commenwealth (1)	124
6.	Pikeville	123
7.	Truett McConnell	122
8.	Spartanburg Methodist	108
9.	Montreat	72
T10.	Tennessee Wesleyan	69
T10.	Bryan	69
12.	Bluefield	55
13.	Columbia	42
14.	Brenau	21

2024 SEASON IN REVIEW
BU won 19 games last fall, marking its fifth-straight season with a winning record. The Rams got their season underway by taking three out of four games at the Big Dogs Invite in Joliet, Illinois. Then, following two season-opening tournaments, BU rattled off five consecutive victories between September 4-17. Down the stretch, the Rams picked up five wins over their last six regular season contests to earn the fifth seed in the AAC Tournament.
 
2025 SCHEDULE
This year, the Rams open the season with a trio of non-conference matches against Sweet Briar (September 2 and 10) and Bluefield State (September 9). AAC conference play starts with three consecutive road matches against Bryan (September 19), Tennessee Wesleyan (September 20), and Pikeville (September 23). The Rams' conference home opener is on September 27 against Union College followed by a return trip to Bluefield State October 1. Bluefield visits preseason favorite Reinhardt October 11 before hosting four-consecutive conference matches October 14-21. The regular season concludes with a trip to Barboursville, Ky. to battle Union November 8.
 
RETURNING PRODUCTION
Bluefield returns nine players from last year's roster, including All-AAC Second Team performer senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Liangelys Santana. Seniors Abbey Boehm and Eledy Torres played in all 32 games in 2024 while junior outside hitter Chesed Russell (17 games), senior setter Izabella Lechuga (16 games), and senior right side Rachel Sasson (16 games) appeared in at least half of BU's contests. Other returners include sophomore middle hitter Paige Bette, senior middle hitter Camille Gonzalez Rivera, and junior middle hitter Morgan Wigg.
 
NEW FACES
Beginning his first season as the leader of the women's volleyball team, head coach Keven John added nine newcomers to the roster, broken up by six transfers and three freshmen. The transfers include junior right side/middle hitter Ella Gawellek (Quartz Hill, Calif./Los Angeles Mission College), sophomore right side Faith Graham (Anderson County, Tenn./Maine Presque Isle), junior outside hitter Sydney James (Las Vegas, Nev./Edmonds College), sophomore defensive specialist Devry Lausch (Rexburg, Idaho/Big Bend CC), junior defensive specialist Sienna Vitelli (San Jacinto, Calif./Mt. San Jacinto College), and junior setter Katie Voss (Reno, Nev./Bethany College (Kan.). The freshmen class is made up of freshman defensive specialist Kaitlyn Barrett (Bristol, Va./John S. Battle), outside hitter Jaden Bradley (Marion, Va.), and setter Kylee Sturgill (Norton, Va./John I. Burton).