THE MATCHUP: Mount Holyoke kicks off its 2010 slate versus non-conference foe Bay Path College tomorrow evening (7:00) at the Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium. The Lyons are perfect in two all-time meetings between the programs. They handed the Wildcats a 3-1 setback last fall after picking up a 3-0 victory in 2008. Match Program

THE LYONS: Mount Holyoke (0-0, 0-0 NEWMAC) begins the 2010 season with a renewed sense of optimism, as six talented newcomers join a group of nine experienced veterans. In addition to blanking Becker College twice, the youthful Lyons also recorded victories over Bay Path and Elms College last fall. They captured the NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award for the third year in a row. Now in her third season, head coach Sonnie Terrell will look for senior captains Kateryna Kuc and Kara Neidhardt to provide her squad with leadership in 2010. Kuc led the way for Mount Holyoke last year, dishing out 4.67 assists per set. The setter collected 2.35 digs per set, 64 kills and a team best 36 service aces. Outside hitter Rosa Marruffo tallied 1.59 kills per set to go with a squad high 2.71 digs per set, while fellow outside hitter Morgan Cooley chipped in with a team high 1.72 kills per set. Additional returnees include Kathryn Brummer, Tyler Protano-Goodwin, Nia Hinkson, Sorcha Grogan and Kathy Kelly-Tran.

THE WILDCATS: Bay Path (1-0, 0-0 NECC) cruised to a 3-0 triumph over Curry College in its first match of the 2010 campaign last Thursday. Leading the way for the Wildcats was outside hitter Vanessa Chaplin, who finished with a .385 attack percentage. Chaplin collected six kills, six digs and one assist for. Fellow outside hitter Davi Chuong racked up a match best eight kills while chipping in two aces and three digs. Meanwhile, middle hitter Nadine Harkless posted six kills, five aces, and one block. Harkless led the way defensively with seven digs. Setter Ashley Provost dished out 17 assists while adding eight aces and five digs. Bay Path finished with an overall record of 5-14 in 2009. The Wildcats found the win column against Anna Maria College, Mitchell College, Southern Vermont College, Albertus Magnus College and Castleton State College. 

NEXT UP: Mount Holyoke will return to action on Saturday, when it hosts St. Joseph College and Daniel Webster College for a tri-match. The Lyons will face off against St. Joseph at noon and Daniel Webster at 4:00 p.m. Bay Path is also slated to play a pair on Saturday at Johnson State College. The Wildcats will get things going with a match against Anna Maria College at 3:00 p.m. before closing things out at 5:00 p.m. against Johnson State.