Courtesy Salem State Sports Information

The Vikings will be making the program's 22nd NCAA Division 3 Tournament appearance this coming weekend after receiving an at-large bid to the national playoffs field of 60 teams.

SSC (21-6) will travel to Widener University in Chester, PA to play Rochester (NY) Institute of Technology (19-8) in a first round game at 6:00 pm on Friday, March 6. Widener (22-5) will face Virginia Wesleyan College (17-12) in the other first round game in Chester at 8:00 pm on Friday. The first round winners will advance to Saturday's (3/7/09) second round game at 7:00 pm at Widener.

The Vikings, who are guided by second year head coach Chris Harvey, were regular season co-champions with Bridgewater State in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and runners-up to the Bears in the conference postseason tournament.

SSC is led by senior center Dylan Holmes (Groton, Mass.), the reigning two-time MASCAC Player of the Year. Holmes, the team's top scorer, rebounder and shot blocker, helped lead the Vikings to last year's NCAA Tournament and a final record of 21-7.

Senior guard Stevie Celestin (Somerville, Mass.), who directs the SSC backcourt, was selected a first team All-MASCAC member along with Holmes. Senior swingman Ricky Ogboin (Boston, Mass.), who serves as a team captain with Holmes and Celestin, is one of the team's top all-around players.