BC Men’s Volleyball Begins Its Fifth Season

The Bluefield College men’s volleyball team recently began its fifth season in school history, and despite a few early challenges the team is optimistic for a promising year.

The Rams opened the season with a three-set loss at Lees-McCrae College, but bounced back with a win over Cumberland University in straight sets in the opening match of the Off the Block Grow the Game Challenge in Lebanon, TN. They ended up splitting the tournament after losing to Fontbonne University in match two.

“I am looking forward to this season,” said Ray Vance, who is beginning his second year as head coach of the men’s volleyball team. “We have seniors on the court who are stepping up, and the new guys are learning and developing well.”

The Rams lost three of four matches in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Invitational in Chicago, IL, before winning two of four during a stretch in the early part of February, which included the team’s first conference win of the season, a three-game sweep of Brewton-Parker College.

“We still need to find our rhythm, but we are going to be good this year,” said senior Chaz Franqui from Old Bridge, NJ. “We need to do some more scouting of the teams that we play so then we have a game plan on how we can attack.”

Webber International University gave the Rams their eighth loss of the season on February 9, and despite the 4-8 overall record thus far Franqui says he is happy with how the team is playing.

“It’s still early in the season,” he said, “but once we get our rhythm, we will be a beast.”

The Rams will hit the road for three straight matches before returning home to the Dome Gymnasium on February 20 against Cumberland University.