SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - The Mount Holyoke College squash team opened play at the 2015 Pioneer Valley Invitational on Friday with a pair of matches. The #26 Lyons shouldered a 9-0 loss to #17 Hamilton College, before falling to #22 Colby College by an 8-1 score. MHC is now 4-8 on the season following opening day play.

Mount Holyoke opened the competition against a tough Continentals squad. Hamilton captured victory from top to bottom on the ladder. For the Lyons, sophomore Sanjna Merchant battled in her match, but ultimately fell to Elizabeth Morris. After tough 11-8 and 11-4 losses in the first two games, Merchant took it to the brink, but fell 11-9.

In the second match of the day, the Lyons saw a number of strong efforts. Senior Samantha Rosado posted the lone win for the home team as she defeated Mikaela Johnson in the second flight by an 13-11, 11-5, 11-6 score. Merchant also played strong, winning her opening game by an 11-6 margin, but she was unable to hold off Tara Tischio, who went on for the 3-1 (6-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-7) match victory.

First year Brandy Williamson also had a tough battle for the Lyons at the top of the ladder. Trailing 1-0 to Colby's Julia Wolpow, she was able to win the second game by an 11-9 score. Wolpow battled back though, taking the final two games (12-10, 11-7) for the 3-1 win.

Mount Holyoke returns to action on Saturday, facing off against Bowdoin at 3pm on their home courts. The action begins on Saturday in South Hadley at 10:30am as Wesleyan and Drexel will square off. Invitational play is being held at MHC, Smith and Amherst throughout the weekend.