The Rams launched their preseason in southern California this past weekend and returned home undefeated. Their current record is 5-0.

Upcoming matches will take place Feb. 7 at Carmel Beach against American River College and San Joaquin Delta College.

Malia Edwardson, a defender on the women’s beach volleyball team, said they did not know what to expect from the southern Californian colleges other than good competition.

Training and practices began on the first day of the semester. Fresno City College does not compete against southern Californian teams until the postseason for state playoffs.

“It’s good to get experience against them early in the season so we’re not going in completely blind later on,” Edwardson said.

Compared to last season’s small but mighty 10-player team, the member count bumped up to 18.

Head Coach Kieran Roblee said they had an incredible 2023-2024 season.

“We won our first conference championship,” Roblee said.

Six out of the 18 team members are returning athletes. Those returning, like Edwardson, are aiming to surpass their state championship record.

“We’ve lost two championships now, so it would be nice to win one,” Edwardson said.

Reese Cutton, a blocker on the women’s beach volleyball team, said their coaches’ support and belief in the players has helped them better as a team.

“They hold us to a very high standard, which we all like,” Cutton said.

The team placed second in the state championship during their 2023-2024 season.

“We’re working on picking up our tempo, playing a little bit faster to make it a little harder for other opponents to keep up with us,” Edwardson said.