WORCESTER, Mass. -- Host WPI started its midweek match with the Mount Holyoke College volleyball team on fire, then edged out the visiting Lyons in the ensuing two sets for a 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-23) NEWMAC victory Tuesday night.

Olivia Hutchinson, who leads the NEWMAC in attack percentage, put down nine kills with one error on 15 attempts (.533) for the Engineers (8-6, 1-2 NEWMAC). Bridget Spees had seven kills on 17 attempts (.353) and Zeala VanDamme had six kills on nine attempts (.556).

Seniors Madeline Barton (Brookfield, Wis.) and Elle Rimando (Mililani, Hawaii) led both sides with 14 and 12 kills apiece for Mount Holyoke (8-6, 1-2 NEWMAC). Barton, yesterday named NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time of the month, had nine digs and Rimando had seven. The two seniors rank 1-2 in the NEWMAC in kills and points per set.

The Engineers attacked at a .391 rate in the first set and led the entire way in taking a 1-0 lead. Six players recorded kills and four players had assists in the set for WPI.

WPI maintained a slight lead in the second set from 7-7 onward, ultimately scoring the final three points of the set, the last two on kills by VanDamme.

Mount Holyoke ran out to a 6-1 lead in the third set, but WPI reeled off seven straight points to lead 8-6. The score remained tight and the Lyons retook the lead at 23-22, but the Engineers responded with the final three points, with two kills by Spees and the match-clincher by VanDamme. The set featured eight ties and three lead changes.

Junior Kyra Staples (Chatham, Ill.) had a match-high 15 digs for Mount Holyoke, while senior Sadie Duffrin (Minneapolis, Minn.) had 30 assists.

The Lyons will play a NEWMAC match at MIT on Saturday at 1pm, followed by a neutral-site, non-conference match against Worcester State at 3pm at MIT.