(Valhalla, NY) - If anything has been established thus far during the 2018 volleyball season is that things could not be much closer than they are in the Mid-Hudson Conference. A slew of five-set matches have defined the first week of play, conference-wide. And, for the second time in three matches, Westchester Community College went to a fifth set against a conference foe, and for the second time, the Vikings came away with a victory, this time over visiting Dutchess Community College, 3-2. With the win, WCC is now 2-1, with all three matches against Mid-Hudson Conference and Region XV competition.

Dutchess (1-2) opened play with a 25-22 win in the first set. The Falcons opened a 7-2 lead early, but Westchester rallied three different times to tie the score, but never actually took the lead. However, the Vikings improvement during the opening set was evident as the match proceeded. Westchester stormed to early leads during the next two sets, winning 25-20 and 25-15, before the Falcons forced a fifth set with a 25-20 win.

The final set was all WCC. After play began with a 3-3 tie, Westchester notched four straight points to make it 7-3. After two straight Dutchess points, freshman Jurnee Reid (Sleepy Hollow, NY/Ossining HS) stepped to the line, and served six consecutive points for the Vikings - including two service aces - to make it 13-5. After a Dutchess point, freshman Tia Sue (Sleepy Hollow, NY/Sleepy Hollow HS) served the final two points of the match for the Westchester win. 

Sophomore Taylor Mello (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Putnam Valley HS) continued her torrid start to the 2018 season, amassing 16 kills to go with nine digs, and six service aces. Fellow sophomore Lindsay Leggio (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac HS) also had a huge match with 37 assists, 10 digs, and three kills. WCC was also led by Madison Young (Greenburgh, NY/Woodlands HS), who had 19 kills and five blocks, to go along with four service aces.

The Vikings amassed 19 service aces for the match, and hit a combined .465.

WCC also received a huge boost from two freshmen as Melody Pabon (Bronx, NY/Celia Cruz) had nine kills, while Esther Uddoh (Yonkers, NY/Gorton HS) had four kills and two solo blocks, and provided all-around excellent play at the net.

Westchester Community College returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 18 when the Vikings travel to Monroe College (Bronx) for a 7:00 p.m. start.