NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- The Mount Holyoke College volleyball team played its NEWMAC opener and fell 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-12) to one of the conference's top teams on Tuesday night at Smith College.

Sophomore Madeline Barton (Brookfield, Wis.) had a team-high seven kills for the Lyons (5-5, 0-1 NEWMAC), who were held to a season-low attacking percentage (-0.011) while allowing the highest opponents' attack percentage of the season (.281) to the Pioneers.

Abby Hunt had 11 kills to lead Smith (7-4, 1-0 NEWMAC), which finished 21-11 in 2022 and was picked third in the conference preseason coaches' poll. Olivia Teske added seven kills on 12 attempts (.583) and Claudia Poehlmann contributed five kills on 11 attempts (.455) with four blocks.

First-year Kyra Staples (Chatham, Ill.) had a match-high 14 digs for Mount Holyoke, and sophomore Sadie Duffrin (Minneapolis, Minn.) had 17 assists.

Mount Holyoke will host a tri-match this Saturday in Howard Gymnasium, beginning at 11am with the Lyons hosting Salve Regina for the first time as a NEWMAC opponent. Anna Maria College will face Salve Regina at 1pm, and Mount Holyoke will play Anna Maria at 3pm.