By Matt Cook
Sports Editor

The Framingham State Volleyball team is on pace to perform better than they did in 2008 and 2009, when they had losing records in each of the two seasons, and are atop the MASCAC conference.

At the beginning of the 2011 season, the Rams went 1-2 in the first three games played. But from Sept. 6 – Sept. 10, they amassed a winning streak of four games, bringing their record to 5-2. After the streak, Framingham managed to stay above .500.

After a 3-0 win on Wednesday against Elms in a nonconference bout, FSU improved to 8-5 overall, with an impressive 3-1 mark at home and 4-2 record on neutral ground.

Seven Rams accumulated three spikes in Wednesday’s game. Sophomore Andressa Fernandes led the team with a total of 10 kills out of the 22 FSU had the whole match. She also leads the team on the season with 118 kills.

In the first game, freshman Kayla Bertrand had an ace that extended the lead to 7-2, widening the margin. The game quickly turned into a blowout as the deficit grew to 11 in favor of the Rams, 17-6.

Bertrand said the team is playing well despite being made up of younger players.

“Being seeded fifth in the conference, we’re definitely showing that we can battle any team no matter how good they are,” Bertrand said.

In game two, the Rams picked up where they left off, starting with a quick 12-2 rout. Fernandes and sophomore Erin Connolly both had kills that increased the lead.

Fernandes and Bertrand both had six aces, and Bertrand had 15 digs.

“I feel like we’re just at our starting point, and we’re ready to take off into the season,” Bertrand said. She added she has high hopes and expectations for the coming year.

Connolly, who’s been playing volleyball for seven years, is an outside hitter for the Rams. She said her most memorable moment playing for the Rams came last year, when the team defeated Bridgewater for the first time in almost two decades.

When asked about personal expectations, she said, “I’m always looking to improve on certain volleyball skills that I need work on.”

Currently, Framingham is atop the conference at 1-0. Overall, they have the best record in the MASCAC, two games ahead of Worcester State (6-6). They are also the only team in the conference with a winning record, which plays a deciding factor in whether they compete in the playoffs.

Next up for the Rams is their Homecoming Weekend performance against Westfield State at 11 a.m. in a MASCAC matchup. It’s the first conference game for Westfield State.