SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- The Mount Holyoke College volleyball team celebrated Senior Day Saturday with a pair of 3-1 non-conference victories over winning teams in Bridgewater State University and Fisher College, ensuring at least a .500 final record for the season.
The Lyons (13-11) defeated Bridgewater State (10-9) Saturday morning 25-16, 23-25, 25-23, 25-13. They honored seniors Lucie Berclaz (Vaud, Switzerland), Barah Burns (Los Angeles, Calif.), and Dinanyelin Martinez (Bronx, N.Y.) prior to their matchup with Fisher (20-14) before defeating the Falcons in four sets as well, 23-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16.
Junior Madeline Barton (Brookfield, Wis.) had double-doubles with 22 points in both matches to lead the Lyons.
Fisher defeated Bridgewater State 3-0 in the second of the day's three matches in Mildred S. Howard Gymnasiumm.
MHC 3, Bridgewater St. 1 (BOX)
Barton had 18 kills and 11 digs, while Berclaz and junior Elle Rimando (Mililani, Hawaii) posted eight kills apiece to lead the Lyons. The Lyons served up 14 aces, and Berclaz and Barton had four aces apiece.
Mount Holyoke led the first set comfortably from the halfway point on. In the second set, the Lyons trailed from 9-8 to 20-19, and took their first lead since 7-6 at 23-22 on a Berclaz kill. But three straight Lyons attack errors reversed the momentum back to the Bears, tying the match at 1-1.
Mount Holyoke trailed in the third set by scores of 9-3, 17-12, and 22-17. Three straight Bears errors began a set-ending 8-1 run by the Lyons, concluded emphatically by Barton kills for the tie, the Lyons' first lead and the set point.
Bridgewater State didn't recover in the fourth set, which was led from start to finish by Mount Holyoke.
Sophomore Kyra Staples (Chatham, Ill.) had a match-high 23 digs and a career-high seven assists, while junior Sadie Duffrin (Minneapolis, Minn.) totaled 32 assists and nine digs.
Lily Welch led Bridgewater State with 10 kills on 24 attempts (.333), while Ava Crane added eight kills.
MHC 3, Fisher 1 (BOX)
The Lyons narrowly lost the opening set after four lead changes and 12 tie scores against the visiting Falcons. They took over the lead for good at 8-7 in the second set, and dominated the final two sets, never trailing in either frame.
Barton had 20 kills and 16 digs, while Berclaz also posted a double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs. First-year Olivia Murray (Miami, Fla.) dropped nine kills on 19 attempts (.421), and Staples posted a team-high 20 digs and four aces.
On their Senior Day along with Berclaz, Burns had career highs in both assists (15) and kills (3) while Martinez had five digs and an ace.
Alicia Tkach had 12 kills and Edsyl Irizarry had 25 digs to lead Fisher.
The Lyons next play at Clark University Tuesday at 7pm before hosting their season finale against Wellesley on Saturday, Nov 9 at 1pm.
