WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Mount Holyoke College volleyball team gutted out a 3-2 victory Saturday at the University of St. Joseph, winning their first season opener since 2017 behind a strong attack from first-year duo Madeline Barton and Elle Rimando.
The Lyons (1-1) followed with a 3-0 defeat against 2021 Little East Conference finalist Eastern Connecticut State on St. Joseph's neutral court.
Mount Holyoke 3, St. Joseph 2 (25-13, 22-25, 25-15, 14-25, 15-13)
First-year outside hitter Barton (Brookfield, Wis.) had a match-high 14 kills in her collegiate debut, while first-year middle hitter Rimando (Mililani, Hawaii) tallied eight kills against zero attack errors on 14 attempts (.571).
Barton put down the match-clinching kill with an assist from senior Marion Abeja (Kumi, Uganda), capping a comeback from a 13-10 deficit in the fifth set. A starting outside hitter last season, Abeja tallied 33 assists, seven digs, four kills and four blocks in her first start as setter.
Senior outside hitter Mar Simon (Miami, Fla.) served up her match-high fifth and final ace to push MHC into a 14-13 lead in the fifth set. Simon was second on the team in kills with nine, to go with eight digs.
Senior middle hitter McKenna Crosby (Jonesborough, Tenn.) added seven kills and a team-high five blocks in the victory. Sophomore libero Lucie Berclaz (Hull, Mass.) led the Lyons with 22 digs, while Barton added 17.
Eastern Connecticut State 3, Mount Holyoke 0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-21)
Eastern (1-1) prevailed 26-24 in the first frame and went on to win in three closely played sets.
Mount Holyoke contended with an effective Warrior attack led by Anna Barry's 12 kills on 14 attempts (.857), with Paige Savitsky posting 10 more kills on 24 attempts (.333).
Barton again led Mount Holyoke in kills with nine to go with nine digs, while Rimando continued her efficient pace with six kills against one error on 13 swings (.385), with Abeja dishing out 20 assists. Berclaz and Simon posted 10 digs apiece and Simon added five kills.
Mount Holyoke resumes non-conference play Wednesday at 7pm on the road at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA).