New York, New York – The BMCC women's volleyball team hosted their first double dual of the season on Saturday afternoon at BMCC Gymnasium, looking for the program's first four-game winning streak since 2017. The Panthers would make short work of their first opponent defeating Rockland Community College in straight sets (25-8,25-23,25-11) before outmuscling Westchester Community College in their second match by a final of 3-1 (25-14,23-25,28-26,25-14) improving their record to 5-2 (5-0 Region XV).

Freshman Josanne Lewis (Rochester, Minnesota) and sophomore Xheni Doci (Saluzzo, Italy) kept up their stellar play against the Hawks, recording their fourth straight double-doubles. Lewis led the Panthers offensively and defensively with a game-high 15 kills and a career-high eight service aces to go along with a team-best 11 digs. Lewis also registered a game-high .300 hitting percentage in the match, while Doci gave out a game-best 22 assists, placed three service aces, and chipped in with 10 digs. 

Underclassmen Emmanuella Aurel (New York, New York) and Johana Boleaga Ramirez (Brooklyn, New York) recorded five and four kills, with Aurel registering two service aces.

Aliviah Dean led the way on offense and defense for Rockland Community College, smashing a team-best four kills and grabbing a game-high 12 digs. Gabrielle Faulcon dished out four assists, and Cristal Pichardo placed a team-best three service aces.
 
In their final match of the day, the Panthers defeated Westchester Community for the third time in the last four seasons after failing to defeat the Vikings in their first four meetings in the series. After BMCC cruised 25-14 in the first set, the Vikings clawed back into the match in the second set, racing out to a 17-6 advantage fighting off a ferocious 19-8 Panther push to win 25-23 and even up the match.
 
The third set was a slugfest, with neither team trailing by more than three points. Westchester Community College led for most of the third set before BMCC rattled off four straight points trailing 22-20 to set up for set point leading 24-22. After the Vikings fought off the first set point with three consecutive points to make it 25-24, the Panthers would keep the set alive and take four of the following five points with a Lewis kill, helping them pull it out 28-26 and take two sets to one lead in the match.
 
After building a 15-11 lead in the fourth set, the Panthers would close on a 10-3 run to win it 25-14 and take the match 3-1.
 
Three Panthers recorded double-doubles in the victory, with freshman Josanne Lewis (Rochester, Minnesota) and sophomore Xheni Doci (Saluzzo, Italy) posting their fifth straight. Lewis led the Panthers' offensive and defensive attack uncorking a game-high 17 kills and tying another with four service aces while corralling a game and career-best 31 digs. Doci distributed a game-high 26 assists and registered 13 digs while also tying for a match-high with four service aces. Doci also had six kills in the match.
 
Underclassman Emanuella Aurel recorded her first double-double of the season, recording a career-best 11 kills and three blocks to go along with 20 digs. Fellow underclassman Sarah Lee (Staten Island, New York) contributed defensively with a career-high 24 digs. Freshman Albina Rugova (New York, New York) also helped on offense with four kills.
 
Mikaelyn Hannon led Westchester Community College offensively with a team-high 11 kills and tied for another with three service aces. Gabriella Cresti Caetano chipped in with 10 kills in the match and joined Sara Ortiz, who posted a game-high 35 digs to lead the Vikings on defense with game-best eight blocks.
 
Isabella Masucci and Ireana Olivio both recorded double-doubles, with Masucci giving out a team-high 14 assists and tying another with three service aces to go along with 14 digs. Olivio registered 12 digs and 11 assists.
 
The BMCC women's volleyball team will look to extend their winning streak to five for the first time since the 2017 season on the road on September 27 with a measuring stick matchup in conference action against nine-time CUNYAC Champion and 2021 Region 15 champion Queensborough Community College at 6 p.m. from RFK Gymnasium. For more information, please visit the BMCC Women's Volleyball Schedule Page.

 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The athletic program at Borough of Manhattan Community College encompasses a total of eight varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level. For the latest news on the Panthers, please visit us at https://bmccathletics.com - The official site of BMCC Athletics. Follow the Panthers on Instagram (@bmcc_athletics) and Twitter (@BMCCAthletics), and Like Us on Facebook (BMCC Athletics).