Kutztown Women’s Volleyball Opens Season with Competitive Match Against Chestnut Hill

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women’s volleyball team commenced their 2025 season under new leadership in a home opener that showcased their competitive spirit. Despite falling to Chestnut Hill in four sets during a non-conference match at Keystone Arena, the Golden Bears demonstrated considerable improvement from the previous year.

Match Overview

The match concluded with set scores of 23-25, 32-30, 23-25, and 20-25. Kutztown (0-1 overall) fought valiantly throughout each set, delivering several thrilling rallies and moments of excitement. The team appeared revitalized, embodying a different energy compared to last season.

Player Highlights

• Madilyn Bogovic (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff): Led the Golden Bears with 11 kills while also securing a double-double with a team-high 18 digs. Bogovic showcased her strong service game, contributing five aces.
• Grace White (Pennsburg, Pa./Quakertown): Added seven kills and four blocks, helping to anchor the front line.
• Lauren Montgomery (Norristown, Pa./Mount Saint Joseph Academy): Registered six kills and five digs.
• Madison Lowe (Kearneysville, W. Va./Jefferson): Made her presence felt with five kills, seven digs, and three aces.
• Macy Shewmake (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin): Contributed four kills along with three blocks.
• Emma Baldridge (Damascus, Md./Damascus): Achieved a double-double with 17 assists and 13 digs.
• Alice Frank (Allentown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic): Recorded 11 assists and nine digs, showing significant support in the setting position.
• Saige Thibodeaux (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker): Provided valuable defensive coverage with 10 digs.
• Mallory Hoch (Zionsville, Pa./Southern Lehigh): Contributed seven digs to the team’s defensive effort.

Match Highlights

The Golden Bears faced a rocky start, losing the first set. However, they rebounded in the second set, which proved to be a thrilling back-and-forth affair. After falling behind 24-21, Kutztown rallied to score three consecutive points, and after trading leads, the set was sealed at 32-30 with a kill by White, leveling the match.

In the third set, Chestnut Hill surged early, capitalizing on a quick lead. Kutztown managed to come back and take a slender lead at 14-13 but ultimately couldn’t maintain their momentum. The fourth set was tightly contested initially, but Chestnut Hill pulled away to clinch the match, marking a significant challenge for the Golden Bears.

Looking Ahead

Kutztown will seek to regroup quickly as they have a tri-match scheduled on Saturday in Philadelphia. The team will face Lincoln at 1 p.m., followed by a match against the host team, Holy Family, at 3 p.m., aiming to secure their first win of the season.