WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Mount Holyoke volleyball team swept three sets from host Saint Joseph (Conn.) to open the 2025 season on Saturday, before losing 3-1 to Eastern Connecticut State on a neutral court.

Senior outside hitter Madeline Barton (Brookfield, Wis.) put down a combined 40 kills with a .337 hitting percentage over the two matches for a conference-leading 5.71 kills per set, including the go-ahead and match points in the victory over the host Blue Jays.

Mount Holyoke 3, USJ 0 (BOX) 

The Lyons opened with a 25-13, 25-14, 28-26 win behind 18 kills and eight digs from Barton and nine kills on 16 attempts (.375) from senior Elle Rimando (Mililani, Hawaii). Senior setter Sadie Duffrin (Minneapolis, Minn.) had 27 assists, two kills, and four aces in the match and junior Kyra Staples (Chatham, Ill.) led the Lyons with 11 digs.

Sofia Weiss had 10 kills for the Blue Jays and Alyssa Dugas had 13 digs.

ECSU, Mount Holyoke 1 (BOX) 

Mount Holyoke rebounded losing 32-30 in a marathon first set to the ECSU Warriors by taking the second set 25-22. But Eastern prevailed in the third set and dominated the fourth to earn the win.

Emma Robinson led a trio of Warriors with double-digit kill totals, collecting 17. Brooke Praskievicz had 12 kills and 14 digs and Haley Jo Bridges added 10 kills.

Barton put on another dominating performance for Mount Holyoke, posting 22 kills on 43 swings (.372) to go with nine digs.

Rimando added 14 kills, and sophomore Olivia Murray (Miami, Fla.) posted nine kills. Staples led the match with 25 digs, an average of 6.25 per set.

Mount Holyoke will next play Friday at 7pm at Amherst College.