THE BASICS 

Score: Mount Holyoke College, 3; Lesley University, 0 (25-4, 25-4, 25-4)

Records: 
Lesley University Lynx (0-15, 0-2 NECC)
Mount Holyoke College Lyons (9-11, 1-7 NEWMAC)

Location: Medford, Mass. – Medford High School   

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022

THE LEAD – Mount Holyoke College cruised to a 3-0 (25-4, 25-4, 25-4) non-conference victory Thursday evening over host Lesley University in non-conference women's volleyball action at Medford High School.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lynx stormed out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening set behind a pair of MHC hitting errors but the Lyons recovered with four straight points to take the lead for good in the frame. LU junior middle hitter Candace Ells (Boston, Mass.) made it 4-3 with a kill before Mount Holyoke rattled off 14 straight points behind the service game of senior middle hitter McKenna Crosby (Jonesborough, Tenn.) to take an 18-3 lead. Following a service error to make it 18-4, senior setter Marion Abeja (Kumi, Uganda) served up the final six points to account for the 25-4 final in the opening frame.
• The Lions stayed hot to open the second set, scoring the first seven points again behind the service game of Abeja to take the 7-0 cushion. The Lynx responded with consecutive points including an ace by junior Christina Ruiz (Cambridge, Mass.) to make it 7-2 but the visitors regrouped to close the set on an 18-2 flurry, hitting a gaudy .846 (11-0-13) along the way to post the 25-4 second set win.
• Mount Holyoke stayed in control the final set, racing out to a 10-1 lead with Ells recording the early LU point with another kill. The sides traded points midway through the set to move the score to 11-3 but the Lions offense proved to be too much for the hosts as MHC closed the match strong with nine straight points behind the service action of sophomore Barah Burns (Los Angeles, Calif.) for the 25-4 win. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Lyons hit a season-high .692 in the victory, collecting 28 kills on 39 attempts with just one error.
• First year outside hitter Elle Rimando (Mililani, Hawaii) led the way with a match-high six kills on seven swings for a career-best .857 hitting percentage for MHC. Senior Sierra West (Longmont, Colo.) and first year Madeline Barton (Brookfield, Wis.) added five kills each.
• The 12 total points allowed by Mount Holyoke is the lowest this season and the fewest points allowed in a match since at least 2008.
• The Lyons have won three of their last four matches.
• Mount Holyoke hit a torrid .692 for the match to set a season-high and rank as the fourth-highest for any school in NCAA Division III this season. The mark is also the highest in a match for the Lyons since at least 2009.
• Mount Holyoke hit at least .583 in every set for the match and committed just one attack error for the night.
• Junior outside hitter Candace Ells (Boston, Mass.) matched her career-high with three kills for Lesley.
• Junior defensive specialist Cristina Ruiz (Cambridge, Mass.) hit a perfect 1.000 for the match, putting down her only attack attempt for a kill.

UP NEXT

• The Lynx return to action on Saturday, October 22 for a doubleheader vs. Eastern Nazarene College in NECC play beginning at 11:00 AM in Quincy, Mass.
• Mount Holyoke heads to Worcester State the same day for a non-conference doubleheader against the Lancers starting at 11:00 AM.