SARATOGA -- The Vikings set a program record and dominated the City College of San Francisco Rams, winning in straight sets on Friday night.

West Valley (9-13, 4-2 Coast-South) swept the Rams (2-15, 2-4 Coast-South) to create separation in the top half of the conference. The Vikings took the first set 25-12, the second 25-4 and the third 25-18.

"It was almost a complete match for us," said head coach Sam Crosson. "We talked a little bit about just trying to make sure that we're focused and trying to really find a rhythm both from the service line and also in the serve- receive. It was obvious to our group coming back from Wednesday's match at CSM, which our serve-receive was all over the place, we did a little bit better job tonight."

Eight different Vikings had multiple service aces. Freshman outside Kianna Liggs, the conference leader in kills and kills per set, led the way with a career-high eight service aces. Her stats in conference play are jarring -- hitting .294 and averaging 4.63 kills per set. She also has two double-doubles during the conference slate.

Freshman outside Ava Aviles led the charge in the first set, finishing with five kills. Her and freshman setter Sydney Scott were in sync to open the night, but sophomore Sianna Tautolo, who's flipped between a defensive-specialist and a setter when the Vikings go to a 6-2, also had a handful of connections with Aviles.

"She's improving on the outside," Crosson said of Aviles, who finished with 11 kills and 11 digs on her highest-efficiency night of the year. "[I talked] with [assistant coach Mapu Sekona] a little bit about how we manage that position in terms of what you're swinging at, what you're not swinging at, decision making. She's got a nice arm and she can hit with range when the ball gets in the window. We're working a little bit on some tempo locations with Sydney in the setters in the outsides, which is kind of a work in progress, but I love the fact that she's out there being aggressive and she's doing a nice job just managing efficiencies are the biggest key."

Set two was a record-breaker for the Vikings, who allowed just four points from the opposition in a beatdown. The prior record was five, set against Ohlone back in 2017. It's a testament to the offense, which was strong all night, but more on the defense and serve-receive, both areas that have struggled at points this season. Both seem to be finding their rhythm -- the Vikings have reached double-digit service aces in five-of-six conference matches. Their 22 aces against CCSF were their most since picking up 26 in a three-setter against Laney in 2013.

"Every set's a new set," said Crosson, "I think it's good for our girls, especially to get some confidence. Because, you know, that means that they executed really well for a period of time to be able to both accumulate points, but also to keep the opponent from scoring."

While the Rams made the third set interesting the deeper it went, as they pulled "the energy card", according to Crosson, the result was never in doubt for a Viking team that's finding its footing at the right time.

"They know the carrot for the final week," said Crosson. "And I thought they did a good job tonight of just being mostly engaged on the defensive side of things. Sometimes when the scores and blah, blah, you get a little wonky or a lopsided, it's easy to kind of check out.

Kyra Bito, who had been playing mostly libero this season, rotated to the front row and placed four kills through the trees of CCSF's middle blockers. The energy she and her teammates brought whenever she placed one down was infectious.

"[Kyra is] of the biggest growers, both with my relationship with her as coach-player and in terms of like, what's her role and where can she be as an integral part for our team's success and kind of 'mphing' back a little bit right now."

West Valley takes on San Jose City College on the road on Wednesday, looking to pick up another conference win and inch closer to San Mateo and Ohlone at the top of the conference.