The FCC Rams women’s volleyball team put on an outstanding performance in their 3-0 sweep of Reedley in the Fresno City gymnasium on Oct. 2. The win extends their winning streak to four games and improves their season record to 9-4 overall and 3-0 in Central Valley Conference play, keeping them in first place.

The Rams were on top of their game from the opening serve, jumping out to a commanding 11-4 lead early on, and Reedley was unable to recover from the deficit, losing the first set 25-11.

Outside hitter Jenna Goldsberry said passing was key to the team getting off to a fast start.

”Our passing is a big thing on our team,” Goldsberry said. “So right when the serve came over, we passed it perfectly and got the first ball down and that gave us the momentum that we needed to have our confidence.”

Head Coach Tracy Ainger-Schulte said coming home after a long road trip was very beneficial because of the home advantage they have established.

“I think that over the years we have built up a really good support system in our stands,” Ainger-Schulte said. “They said they were a little bit nervous; the girls had a little bit of jitters performing in front of the home crowd, but they really settled in and they really enjoyed being at home and feeling that support.”

The score was much tighter in the second set. After 20 points, Fresno was only up 12-8 and only up 13-12 after 25 points. The Rams would persevere and win the second set 25-19.

Middle Blocker Malerie Crenshaw said that the Rams took their foot off the gas because of their success in the first set, and it caught up with them in the second.

“In the second set I think we were a bit complacent,” Crenshaw said. “We got too comfortable right there.”

Ainger-Schulte attributed Reedley’s ability to recover in the second set partly to players’ unfamiliarity in different lineups. She, however, wants to evaluate players in different roles.

“Lineups are different every game, so we have a lot of versatility with what we’re doing and so the girls don’t even know what lineup I’m putting out there,” Ainger-Schulte said. “We mix things around to get different looks at what people can do in different roles, and I like the ability that I can look at those things during a match type situation.”

The third set was even more closely contested than the second. After 30 points, Fresno was only ahead 16-14. The game would go down to the end of the wire, but Fresno was just too much for Reedley to handle as Fresno took the set and the match 25-20.

Fresno dominated the overall point total 59 to 33. Goldsberry led the team in total scoring with 13.5 points followed by Crenshaw with 9; outside hitter Niyesha Brown had 9, and outside hitter Kandaysa Ladiaev finished with 8 points.

The next three games on the Rams’ schedule include a road game versus Columbia, a road game against West Hills Coalinga and at home versus Taft. The game versus Taft is particularly important because the team is second in the conference.