Women’s Volleyball Enjoys Successful Season

The most successful Bluefield University athletic team this fall was by far the women’s volleyball team who finished the regular season 20-11 overall and 16-5 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).

Coached by Buddy Gallemore, who is in his fifth year leading the Lady Rams, the team had two particularly hot stretches this season, including a seven-game win streak in September and five out of seven wins to conclude the 2021 campaign. As the regular season comes to a close, Coach Gallemore said he is confident in a strong post-season run.

“Going into the season I thought we had some good players returning in addition to some good recruits coming in,” Coach Gallemore said. “Our success would depend on team chemistry.”

Lady Ram Lauren Sotomayor said she was nervous about team chemistry, but once she got to BU and pre-season began she knew the team was “amazing,” which made her feel like she was at home.

“Our team chemistry is amazing on the court,” Sotomayor said. “We all hold each other to a high standard on and off the court. We all have the same goal and work together very well.”

Sotomayor is very accomplished, as well, being named First Team AAC All-Conference. She is also third in the conference in kills per set, fourth in total kills, and sixth in total points, and she has been named AAC Attacker of the Week twice.

The team has a number of other players making a name for themselves in the conference, including junior Leslie Flores who was named AAC women’s volleyball Player of the Year. An outside hitter, she also led the conference in total kills, kills per set and total points. She also finished second in the conference in points per set.

Another Lady Ram key to the team’s success is senior Aubri Whatcott, who led the conference in assists per set and total assists. She has also been named AAC Setter of the Week three times.

The Lady Rams will now enter the Appalachian Athletic Conference post-season tournament as the fourth seed with the hope of also earning a bid to play in a national tournament.