Buff & Blue Forever Presented by Capgemini: Jaimeson Lee

Jaimeson Lee met the question with a chuckle, in an instant rifling through a treasure trove of memories spanning 104 GW volleyball matches over four seasons, hundreds more practices, lifting sessions and conditioning workouts and the countless tiny moments in between that made her time with the Colonials so special.

Looking back, what would the Lee who arrived in Foggy Bottom in August 2016 think of the student-athlete she is today as she reaches graduation?

"She would have no clue," Lee said. "She would be so shocked, honestly. Freshman year was definitely rough. Honestly, there were times I did want to give up, but because of my teammates and just being hopeful, I didn't. I think she'd definitely be proud of who I've become and all the things that I'm going to continue to do after this."

Lee's all-around growth has been a testament to her perseverance and positive attitude, and driven by that commitment to excellence, the setter has been instrumental in leading a culture shift within the GW volleyball program under head coach Sarah Bernson.

Lee carved out her place in GW history via 2,738 assists to rank seventh all-time, but the Austin, Texas, native is just as proud of accomplishments that won't show up in the record book, especially her duties as Bernson's first captain.

While putting in tireless work to boost her own game, Lee grew into her leadership role, directing the Colonials with a blend of care and passion that prompted classmate Skylar Iott to call her "everything that I hoped my captain would be."

"I wanted to be a leader who not only talked the talk but also walked the walk," Lee said. "I just wanted to be that example to the rest of my teammates. It definitely transferred from everything I've been doing since I got to GW, just working hard to be that good leader and then continuing that off the court, as well."

No doubt, Lee's perspective was shaped by her personal journey to become one of the Atlantic 10's top setters.

At age 16, Lee made the decision to switch positions, mindful that she was undersized at 5-foot-10 to excel at the net in college. As a setter, her size was an asset, and her athleticism and potential helped her realize her dreams of earning a D-I scholarship.

At GW, Lee had plenty of work to do.

Early on, she learned on the fly. She needed practice to improve her jump setting and gain the feel for the timing of a collegiate offense.

While mastering the mechanics through hours of extra reps, she began to understand the intricacies of an important position that demands knowing the responsibilities of everyone on the floor on every play.

"It definitely requires a lot of communication," said Lee, whose mother Veronica was part of Long Beach State's undefeated run to the 1998 national title. "Just getting to know every single person on your team – who they are off the court and what they like on the court."

Lee made the improvements necessary to earn more opportunities. After splitting time throughout her first two seasons in Buff and Blue, she enjoyed a breakout junior season as the primary setter.

As the Colonials began preparations for Lee's senior season, Bernson made the decision to formalize her position as captain in the spring of 2019.

"She's a voice that everybody was used to hearing, but she just had to grow her authoritative voice," Bernson said. "Giving her the captain title allowed her to grow into being more direct and take that next step as a leader within the team."

On the court, Lee pushed forward that March with a trip to USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team tryouts. Representing the Buff and Blue alongside some of the nation's best over three days in Colorado provided an education on setting for top-flight hitters, plus the belief that she belonged on that stage.

"It was just really amazing because everybody had the drive and the passion, and then on top of that, everyone was just so nice to each other," Lee said. "Everybody just wanted to be the best and then make everyone around them better."

With plenty of help from classmates Iott and Jordan Young, Lee has worked hard to foster a similar atmosphere in Foggy Bottom. By focusing on their relationships off the court, the Colonials were able to build a chemistry that made things easier between the lines.

"Now that we have this freedom to be who we are and say what we want to each other, it allows us to do so much more on the court," Lee said. "You can talk to people like they're your family. The way I talk to my sisters is the way I talk to the girls on my team."

That bond paid off in key moments last fall for a squad that had fun on the way to 15 wins and its best finish in the A-10 standings since 2015.

Memorably, the Colonials roared back after dropping the first two sets to George Mason in their conference opener on their home court to win in five. Lee posted 54 assists, 17 digs and five blocks and helped set up most of Iott's 33 kills in a career performance, including the game-winning point to set off a satisfying celebration after a thrilling comeback.

"We honestly just fell over at the end," Lee remembered. "It was like 'Oh thank goodness!' After that start, we were just happy to get it done."

Throughout her senior season, Lee kept the GW offense running smoothly with a career-high 894 assists. She rarely left the floor and stuffed the stat sheet to finish among the club's top four in digs, blocks and service aces, as well.

Bernson appreciated how the veteran's energy and poise – seemingly opposing forces – reached all-time highs in her final run with the Colonials.

"I think the biggest difference was in her focus – the way she was able to stay connected to her team but be very focused on the point at hand," Bernson said. "The growth she showed with that game maturity, that trust in your relationship with your teammates was a great example for our team."

For Lee, that clarity came from four years of experience and a mindset that allowed her to find learning moments at every turn.

An Economics major, Lee said her involvement with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes made her a more confident person and understanding teammate, while her time teaching local middle schoolers through The Grassroot Project helped her grow as a communicator.

Those lessons helped Lee emerge as a captain for the Colonials on the court and a close confidant to many in the locker room. She stuck out the tough moments early in her career thanks to supportive teammates, and she's grateful she had the chance to pay it forward to help others navigating similar journeys.

"I tried to be someone who people felt they could trust with anything, in hard times and good times," Lee said. "I just want to be remembered as a really good friend to my teammates."

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