(Valhalla, NY) - Before Thursday night's Women's Volleyball match in Viking Gymnasium a raucous crowd gave three Westchester Community College sophomores an unforgettable send-off for the final home match of their careers. Two hours later, those three sophomores repaid the favor in the most incredible fashion. A thrilling 3-1 win over Mid-Hudson Conference powerhouse not only ended the home portion of the 2021 volleyball schedule for Westchester Community College, but it made next week's Mid-Hudson Conference Championship Tournament that much more interesting. The Vikings will enter the playoffs as the #4 seed, but they are the only team in the conference to have beaten both of the top-two teams - Dutchess CC and Ulster CC - meaning that it is anybody's tournament to win.

Westchester CC (4-8, 3-5 Mid-Hudson Conference) earned the win 25-14, 25-18, 18-25, 25-21 to knock Ulster out of the hunt for the #1 seed in the tournament, giving Dutchess CC the regular season championship.

It was not only Sophomore Night in Viking Gymnasium, but it was truly a night for the sophomore. Mikaelyn Hannon (Yonkers, NY/Peekskill HS) turned in her finest performance, registering a double-double with 14 kills a career-high 10 solo blocks, and seven digs during an extraordinary night in the middle. Fellow sophomore AngelaRosa Garofalo (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac HS) was equally up to the task, amassing a career-high 17 digs to go with five kills.

And Westchester's lone two-year sophomore, Stefania Rinaldi (White Plains, NY/Valhalla HS) turned in the finest performance of her career with 24 assists, and 24 digs, to go with seven kills and four service aces.

Also for the Vikings, freshman Ireana Olivo (Yonkers, NY/Maria Regina) barely missed a triple-double with eight kills, 11 assists, and 15 digs.

Westchester also enjoyed a terrific performance from freshman Alison Lara (Sleepy Hollow, NY/Sleepy Hollow HS), who enjoyed a tremendous night, particularly on the serve. Lara registered a career-high seven service aces, and her performance on the serve during the fourth set single-handedly swung the match to Westchester's favor. Ulster led the set 2-1 when Lara stepped up to the service line. Two Lara aces and seven consecutive Viking points later, and Westchester took an 8-2 lead that proved to be insurmountable.

Overall, the Vikings hit .160 - compared to .073 from Ulster - and had 40 assists and 75 digs, compared to 35 and 72 for the Senators. Net play proved to be an enormous factor, as Westchester finished with 13 total blocks, compared to only one for Ulster.

Westchester will likely face Dutchess Community College during the #4/#1 Semifinal match during the Mid-Hudson Conference Tournament, during a place and time to be determined. Before that, the Vikings close out the 2021 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 16 when the Vikings face Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College, beginning at 12:00 p.m. The matches will take place at Rockland CC.