One can look at the Gorham volleyball program and see a team that has been swept twice this season by the state’s top squad, Greely, after being eliminated by the same Rangers in last year’s western Maine final, also in straight sets.

However, a closer look tells a different story. Take a peek at the scores of those matches and there is an undeniable trend: the Rams are gaining on Greely.

In their playoff meeting last season, Gorham averaged just nine points a game against the eventual state champs. This season the teams have met twice and though the Rams came away without winning a set, they averaged 15 points per game against their rivals on Sept. 13 and almost 19 points per set on Sept. 24.

Gorham (7-2) gets a chance to test themselves again Thursday at 6 p.m. when the Rangers (9-0) come to town for a third meeting this season. It’s likely to be the Rams last competitive match before the post-season.

Greely has now won 42 matches in a row and consecutive state titles, but Rams coach Shari Chapman and her girls believe that they have what it takes to play at an equally high level.

“We have the ability,” setter Deandra Guidi said. “They’re a great team, but we have to believe in ourselves.”

“We have to cover the hitter and we have to watch the middle,” said teammate Renate Guyer.

One key to the contest will be how Gorham handles the jump serve from Rangers middle hitter Amanda Gray, which Chapman said “killed” her squad in their last meeting.

“We’re going to have to get excited, to not make mistakes and play as a team,” said Chapman. “I’m trying to get them to step up. Rather than reacting, seeing what is happening on the other side of the court.”

Guidi (18 assists) and Guyer (six kills) each contributed to the Rams sweep of Calais (4-6) at home Saturday – 25-9, 25-21 and 25-14.

“There was a lot of good passing and our serving was good,” said Guidi.

Megan Bilodeau and Lindsay Hansen each had five aces, while Morgan Carlson tallied nine kills.

“Gorham’s got a nice team,” said Blue Devils coach Stephen McGinley, “and they do a nice job of getting the ball in the air and they especially get it to (Carlson).”

The match-up gave the Rams their first look this season at a team from eastern Maine. Calais is right in the middle of the Heal Point pack among programs in the east region.

The Blue Devils left home at 5:45 a.m. to make the six-hour drive and did not expect to get back to Calais until 9 p.m. After the final game, both squads had pizza in the school lobby.