SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- The Mount Holyoke College volleyball team hosted a tri-match on Saturday and came away with a pair of victories, defeating Simmons University 3-2 (18-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 15-4) before dispatching Fitchburg State 3-0 (28-26, 25-15, 25-17).
Simmons (2-9) defeated Fitchburg State (0-10) in straight sets (25-19, 25-19, 25-20) in the middle match of the day.
Mount Holyoke celebrated Senior Day for its outstanding class of 2026 before beating the Falcons in straight sets for the second time this season. Honored by teammates, friends, family and alums were seniors Madeline Barton (Brookfield, Wis.), Mia Blattmachr (New York, N.Y.), Sadie Duffrin (Minneapolis, Minn.), Elle Rimando (Mililani, Hawaii), and Amelia Ringor (Lafayette, Ind.). All five seniors played major roles in the Lyons' two victories.
Mount Holyoke (7-4) opens NEWMAC play at home against Emerson College on Tuesday at 7pm.
Mount Holyoke 3, Simmons 2 (BOX)
Facing a 2-1 deficit to Simmons, Mount Holyoke came back from 16-13 down to win the fourth set 25-19 in a set that included nine tie scores and five lead changes.
The Lyons jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fifth set and finished the match with a 6-0 run on Blattmachr's service, using two kills by Barton and an ace by Blattmachr to clinch the win.
Mount Holyoke attacked at a .198 percentage to Simmons' .143, and the Lyons overcame 19 service errors in the match.
Barton finished with a season-high 22 kills and 17 digs, and Rimando added a season-best 18 kills. Junior Serena Li (Scarsdale, N.Y.) notched a career-high 11 kills, and Blattmachr's two aces and eight digs were both career highs.
Duffrin had a season-high 42 assists, four kills and 14 digs, and Ringor had a season-high 24 digs along with a .974 service reception rate.
Hannah Pridgeon led Simmons with 14 kills.
Mount Holyoke 3, Fitchburg State 0 (BOX)
Mount Holyoke survived a tight first set that included 11 ties and seven lead changes, then controlled the second and third sets for the win.
The Lyons attacked at a .097 rate to the Falcons' .019.
Rimando had her second career double-double with 10 digs and 12 kills on 24 attempts (.333), and Barton totaled a match-high 14 kills. Duffrin had 28 assists and nine digs, and Ringor posted a match-high 23 digs.
Blattmachr put a stamp on her big Senior Day with new career highs of two kills, three aces and 11 digs.
