(Valhalla, NY) - It's been a long time since Viking Gymnasium had a night like this one. And, if ever a sign existed that the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel was starting to shine just bright enough to see the end coming, when a Stefania Rinaldi (White Plains, NY/Valhalla HS) attacking attempt found its way to the hardwood floor to close out the third set of Thursday night's volleyball match between Westchester Community College and Dutchess Community College, that was it. A packed gymnasium rose to its feet and roared. The Viking bench stormed the floor to celebrate. There were high-fives and hugs all around. While the result was a 3-0 sweep for the Vikings, every single point was crucial from start-to-finish as two Mid-Hudson Conference heavyweights battled to the finish as the crowed cheered and screamed and willed the Vikings to their biggest home win in years ... if not ever.

In short, it was everything Westchester CC sports fans were used to before March of 2020. It all felt so normal. Finally.

And, with a 26-24, 25-20, and 28-26 win for the Vikings on Thursday evening, two things were clear: Dutchess Community College is no longer undefeated. And Westchester Community College is finding its stride.

48 hours after the same two teams met for a five-set thriller that saw Dutchess CC earn a 3-2 win to improve to 6-0 to open the 2021 season, Westchester spent most of the evening on Thursday just a small step ahead of the visiting Falcons. While the result was a straight-set win, all three frames could easily have gone either way, but the Vikings seemed to make all of the big plays at the right time. The Viking defense enjoyed perhaps its best match of the 2021 season. Every time Dutchess CC (6-1, 6-1 Mid-Hudson Conference/NJCAA Region XV) seemed poised to go on a run, Westchester's defense rose to the occasion. The Vikings recorded 39 digs, compared to 22 for Dutchess. Rinaldi was responsible for 13 of them, while freshman Ireana Olivo (Yonkers, NY/Maria Regina) recorded nine, and fellow freshman Isabella Masucci (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac HS) had eight. At the net, the Vikings recorded a season-high six blocks, four of which came thanks to an incredible night for freshman Nehemie Fleurimond (White Plains, NY/Woodlands HS).

The defensive effort was more than enough for Westchester's attack to enjoy arguably its best night of the 2021 campaign. Freshman Mikaelyn Hannon (Yonkers, NY/Peekskill HS) registered 16 kills, and hit a season-high .440. Fleurimond added six kills to her huge night at the net, and hit an incredible .857, easily her best attacking night of the season.

And Rinaldi and Olivo were pretty much everywhere. Rinaldi added eight kills to a brilliant 21-assist, 13-dig double-double, while Olivo amassed six kills, five assists, and nine digs.

Overall, Westchester hit a season-best .391, and had 14 service aces, while Dutchess finished with a .181, 10-ace stat-line.

With their biggest win since the 2018 Mid-Hudson Conference Championship Match under their belts, Westchester Community College now sets its sights on their build-up towards the post-season. If indeed the Vikings are in the hunt for a run at the Mid-Hudson Conference crown and a deep NJCAA Region XV post-season, the coming stretch of matches will prove it. Westchester now hits the road for four consecutive matches, beginning with a trip to Rockland Community College on Saturday, Oct. 2, where the Vikings will face Fashion Institute of Technology for a 12:00 p.m. NJCAA Region XV tilt. Westchester returns home on Thursday, Oct. 14 for a 7:00 p.m. match against Ulster Community College for their 2021 Mid-Hudson Conference regular season finale.