Published: October 04, 2008 09:04 pm            

Team is the focus for BC volleyball

BLUEFIELD, Va. — The volleyball team at Bluefield College is enjoying a renaissance. The Lady Rams may be 6-13 overall, but they are 5-5 in the Appalachian Athletic Confer-ence and in the middle of the conference standings.

Three players who have spent their Bluefield College careers on the losing end of matches are now leading the charge to the top — and breaking statistical barriers in the process.

Senior Megan Criss surpassed the 1,000-kill mark for her career.

“I didn’t know about it until they made an article about it (on the Bluefield web site),” Criss said. “It’s a big deal, but for me it’s not because stats aren’t a big thing.”

Junior Lisa Reale passed the 1,500-assist mark.

“It feels pretty good,” Reale said. “It’s definitely meaningful. It’s a good accomplishment. But obviously, I could have never done it by myself. We have an amazing defense and good passers, great hitters. It’s an accomplishment for our whole team.”

Junior Felicia Marmo overcame the 1,500-dig plateau.

“It feels great,” Marmo said. “For me, it’s just a number. But I do it for the team because I want to be right there, to be a team player, play with the team. Individual records don’t mean that much to me because I would like to see the team on a record.”

Each holds her record in high regard. But each only sees herself as part of something greater, something ultimately more lasting.

“It’s the best we’ve played,” Criss said. “It’s the most talent we’ve had and the most heart and the best all-around. Everybody’s really dedicated and coach (Jaime) Bowman is trying to push us a lot.”

“We just have so much heart and talent on our team,” Reale said. “Coach did a great job recruiting and with the players that we do have. We’ve been working together for a couple of years now. And I think that’s helped.”

“We got a few new key players in this season that absolutely just filled the roles and dominated in the spots that they were put in,” Marmo said. “They’re getting their jobs done and we’re just, our team chemistry is there. When we have that, we are completely on and unstoppable.”

Bowman has been the architect of the turnaround. All three players believe her contribution can not be understated.

“She has been there for us since day one, pushing us and putting all her heart and effort into it,” Marmo said. “We have to give her back the same amount of dedication and heart she has given to us because she puts us before herself.”

“She has been such an encouragement to all of us,” Reale said. “No matter what happens, she pushes us because she sees our potential and she views the skills we have and the abilities we have and she’s always pushing, always encouraging.”

“She really pushes us and she makes us work hard,” Criss said. “She gets on to us when we’re not doing well and we really just want to try and please her because she loves the game so much and loves us so much. We want to play for her and everybody else out here.”

Originally from Princeton, Criss has led the Lady Rams as an outside hitter for the first three years of her career. As a senior, she switched to middle hitter to fill a hole in the lineup.

“She’s great to play with,” Reale said. “She’s always encouraging. She’s always talking. She’s a strong hitter and she’s a great leader and able to get people up on the court. I love setting for her.”

“Megan Criss is awesome,” Marmo said. “She is a tremendous athlete. She plays two sports just like myself — and I know how difficult that can be to juggle the two things and school. It has been a huge contribution.”

Criss is regarded as shy by her teammates. But she has a competitive streak on the court.

“Compared to me, she’s quiet,” Marmo said. “But from what I know, she’s funny. She knows how to have a good time.”

“She’s very funny and fun,” Reale said. “She’s got a great heart and a good personality, very fun to be around.”

Reale is the set-up person for Criss and the other Bluefield hitters. She is an equally important part to making the Rams’ offense go.

“Lisa is an all-around athlete,” Marmo said. “She is capable doing anything. She is capable of playing in any spot that a coach puts her in. She doesn’t complain. She’s dedicated. She’s determined to get the job done.”

“She’s a big part of our team,” Criss said. “She has lots of heart and she is always cheering and encouraging. When she’s on with her sets, we’re basically an unstoppable team.”

Reale is from Newark, Del. Although she has become loyal to Bluefield College, she remains true to her roots. She went back home this weekend to attend a family wedding. Criss sees Reale as a solid personality.

“She’s a very good person,” Criss said. “She’s a good Christian and she’s really dedicated to her studies and to working out.

“She loves to work out and she is an amazing person all around.”

But Marmo sees her lighter side.

“She’s crazy. She knows how to have a good time,” Marmo said. “But mostly whenever we’re off the court we just want to go back and play volleyball.”

Manahawkin, N.J. native Marmo is an intense individual who takes pride in her work.

“Mo’s a very intense player,” Reale said. “She has so much heart and passion for the game and you can see that on the court. She hustles. She pushes people and she tells you how it is….”

“She is a huge impact on our team,” Criss said. “She plays on the back row. Without her back there, we would be in a world of trouble because she knows how to read everything and she gets to where she’s going.”

She plays as hard as she works.

“Off the court, she’s kind-of crazy,” Criss said. “She’s very blunt. But she’s a really good person.”

“She’s got a strong personality,” Reale said. “She’s always cracking up, always laughing. She’s funny to be around. She’s intense on and off the floor.”

Together, they have led the Lady Rams to their most successful season in years. But none of them are satisfied.

“We still have a lot of working out kinks to do,” Criss said. “Even though the talent’s there, it’s just the little mistakes add up. But we’re working on that, so when the time comes around we’ll be the team that we need to be and nobody’s going to beat us.”

“There’s definitely things left to work on, things left to accomplish,” Reale said. “We’re not going to settle for where we are, never settle for mediocrity, always strive to do better.”

“We still have a month and a half left of the season and we can only go uphill from here,” Marmo said. “We have nothing to lose at all, only something to gain. And that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to go take it away from all those other teams. We’re going to show them what Bluefield College is all about and what we’re going to do.”

— Contact Jed Lockett

at jlockett@bdtonline.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.