(Suffern, NY) - Considering the ups and downs that have defined the 2021 volleyball season for Westchester Community College, a late-season surge has opened the door for the Vikings to write a new and incredible chapter to this year. With three straight wins under their belts, the Vikings enter Tuesday night's Mid-Hudson Conference Championship Tournament as a team-to-watch, having defeated both top-seeded Dutchess Community College and third-seeded Ulster Community College within a two-week span. Two wins on Tuesday night will not only give the Vikings a .500 record for the season, but also their second conference championship since the 2018 campaign.

And with a sweep of both Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College on Saturday afternoon, the Vikings have clinched a spot in the 2021 NJCAA Region XV Championship Tournament, which begins on Thursday, Oct. 21. Westchester CC closed the regular season with a 25-3, 25-8, 25-10 win over the Broncos, followed by a 25-19, 25-13, 25-15 triumph over the Caimans. With the wins, Westchester improves to 6-8 for the 2021 season, and 5-7 in NJCAA Region XV play.

During the opener, eight different Vikings registered kills, and freshman Ireana Olivo (Yonkers, NY/Maria Regina) registered a career-high 11 service aces, as the Vikings earned their third straight win over Bronx CC. Olivo also had six kills, three assists, and a team-high eight digs during an outstanding overall match. Also for the Vikings, sophomores Mikaelyn Hannon (Yonkers, NY/Peekskill HS) and Stefania Rinaldi (White Plains, NY/Valhalla HS) had seven kills apiece. Hannon hit a perfect 1.000 for the match, while Rinaldi added 14 assists and six service aces.

The second match saw much of the same as Olivo had 10 kills, eight assists, and five digs, while Rinaldi and Hannon added five kills apiece. Rinaldi enjoyed another fine all-around effort, contributing 11 assists, seven service aces, and four digs. Also for Westchester, Nehemie Fleurimond (White Plains, NY/Woodlands HS) added five kills and two solo blocks.

The wins set up an intriguing semifinal match-up at the Mid-Hudson Conference Championships between the Vikings and Dutchess CC. Dutchess enters the tournament as the clear favorite to win, but both matches against Westchester CC were fiercely competitive this season. Dutchess defeated Westchester 3-2 on Sept. 28 at Dutchess CC. Two nights later, the Vikings swept Dutchess at home, giving the Falcons one of only three losses they suffered during the 2021 campaign. Tuesday's Semifinals will take place at 6:00 p.m., with both Semifinal winners competing in the Championship Match later Tuesday evening. All matches will take place at Rockland Community College.

Thursday's NJCAA Region XV Championship Tournament will take place at a site and time to be announced shortly.