SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – The Mount Holyoke College volleyball team shouldered a pair of tough road losses on Saturday, falling 3-0 to both Rhode Island College and host Salve Regina. The Lyons are now 2-3 on the season.
In the opening match against Rhode Island, MHC suffered a 25-20, 25-15, 25-22 loss. The Anchorwomen led two sets to none against Mount Holyoke but found themselves down 19-15 in the third set as the Lyons fought to avoid a sweep. Rhode Island College then went on a 10-3 run to close out the set and the match. The Lyons committed four errors in that span as RIC earned the sweep and a 1-1 record on the day.
Leading the MHC effort was first year Sasha Simine (Kitchener, Ont./Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute), who posted nine kills and no errors on 26 total attempts. She also added a service ace, two digs and a block solo. Sophomore middle hitter Jamesa Allen (Orlando, Fla./Lake Nona) added seven kills with three aces and nine digs, while senior captain and setter Natalie Lyon (Oakton, Va./Flint Hill School) posted 23 assists. Sophomore libero Cameron Graham (Sarasota, Fla./The Out of Door Academy) added a squad-best 13 digs.
In the final match of the day, the Lyons fell to the host Seahawks, 25-12, 25-17, 25-21). Mount Holyoke again found itself down two sets to none, but in control of a third set, this time versus Salve Regina. The Lyons led 17-13 after a kill by sophomore middle hitter Joy Moran (Sante Fe, N.M.) and were trying to force the first fourth set of the day. But a 12-4 run for the Seahawks, including a 7-0 run with Morgan VanderBaan (Douglas, Mass.) at the stripe, completed the rally to earn their second sweep of the day.
Pacing MHC in the final match was sophomore middle hitter Sarah Caggiano (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) with six kills. Maran had five kills, while Allen posted four kills and a team-best 10 digs. Lyon added 17 assists against the Seahawks.
The Lyons return to action on Tuesday when they open NEWMAC action on the road in a 7pm contest at Babson.
