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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team enters 2017 with great promise for the future. KU showcases a healthy mix of returners and newcomers that will not only help it improve upon last season, but return the program to one of the best in the division.
 
The Golden Bears look to turn the tide from the last two seasons. While the first sign of needed improvement could be the six wins from the last season, KU looks at its four- and five-set matches as opportunities it let slip away. KU was 2-5 in five-set matches, but the experience of pushing teams to the limit should help KU overcome similar adversity moving forward.
 
KU was strong defensively last year with senior blockers and defenders, but lacked depth offensively to put the ball on the floor late in matches. KU head coach John Gump and his staff hit the recruiting trail hard during the offseason and brought in 12 new faces and All-State caliber talent that should bring new energy and great depth to the practice floor.
 
The youth movement is certainly underway for KU volleyball, which enters camp with 12 newcomers on its 20-player roster.
 
Gump enters his 21st season at the helm of the Golden Bears. He hopes the increased competition within the program will help raise the program's standards back to where they were six years ago, when KU posted top-two finishes within the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division six times in a seven-year span.
 
West Chester still appears to be the team to beat in the Southeast division, but Gump feels confident that the gap has tightened with the influx of new talent this season.
 
OUTSIDE HITTERS
 
On the left side, Brittney Moyer (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain (Lock Haven)) returns as a junior and Kutztown's leading attacker. She was the Team MVP last season in her first year with the program. She led the team with 398 kills – the most in the 25-point era at KU – to rank fourth in the PSAC. She also thrived in serving and ranked fifth in the league at 0.72 aces per set.
 
Defensively, she added 312 digs and looks to be one of KU's top all-around players.
 
Added depth on the left side will not only keep Moyer fresh during a long season, but give KU multiple looks from an important attacking position. KU has four freshmen behind Moyer who will all contend for playing time.
 
Holly Owen (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) comes out of the competitive Suburban One League with all-conference credentials. Alli Henderson (Boalsburg, Pa./State College Area) was an All-State selection at State College Area High School and brings an athletic skillset to the position. Lindsey Davis (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) is a versatile player who could also see playing time on defense, while Abby Daniels (Exton, Pa./Great Valley) rounds out the freshmen quartet. Daniels is an explosive player who should be a good fit for KU's offense.
 
On the right side, Jessica Howe (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) moves over to the right for her junior season. In her second year on the left last season, she improved her hitting percentage and kills/set. With 53 matches of experience and 389 career kills, Howe aims to continue to bring an outside presence for KU.
 
Cara Long (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) turned in quality outings at KU's early-season tournaments and aims to build on her first collegiate season. Freshman Madelyn Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa./Wyalusing) completes the trio of right-side hitters for KU. She was an All-State hitter at Wyalusing High School and will bring a strong, physical presence to the right side.
 
MIDDLE HITTERS
 
Kutztown looks ahead to a deep pool at middle hitter. Niki Carpenter (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) battled injuries early on last season, but returns as a junior with great experience in the middle. In her last full season in 2015, she posted 107 blocks and 74 kills. She's already played in 55 matches in her career with 158 blocks, bringing a great defensive option up front.
 
With Carpenter missing time, Taylor Brown (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) made the most of her opportunity to earn significant playing time as a freshman. She posted 25 starts and was second on the team with 62 blocks. She also posted 90 kills.
 
Britney Hewitt (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg (East Stroudsburg)) comes to Kutztown after a year at East Stroudsburg University, where she saw meaningful time as a freshman within the PSAC. Two freshmen join the middle this year looking to make an impact early on. Aly Bohman (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) brings All-State credentials from Emmaus High School, while Haylee Holsopple (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) is a strong and athletic player who can greatly add to Kutztown's depth inside.
 
SETTERS
 
KU graduates its four-year starting setter and will look to new faces this season. Madisyn Kleinfelter (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) moves to setter with the chance to add great leadership to a young position group in her senior season. She has played in 68 matches in her career, tallying a career-high 63 digs last season.
 
Amanda Meck (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood Area) saw action last year as a freshman and will compete for playing time. Abbey James (York, Pa./West York Area) was an All-State setter at West York Area High School last year and should contend for significant time in her first year. Sarah Williams (Pikesville, Md./Home-School) also looks ahead to her first collegiate season as she prepares for the increased pace of play.
 
DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
 
After graduating its starting libero last season, Kutztown looks to Carly Shortridge (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) in 2017 for its senior leadership. Shortridge has played in 59 career matches and posted 121 of her 159 career digs in her freshman season.
 
Freshman Sydney Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) was an All-State libero from Liberty High School and has a chance to make an immediate impact with the Golden Bears. She brings a fast and aggressive skillset from her backline position and can give KU a great foundation for the future. Junior Paige Miller (Halifax, Pa./Halifax (Harrisburg Area C.C)) also joins the back line as a junior transfer to add depth to the position group.
 
UP NEXT
 
Kutztown has three early-season tournaments to start its season. KU plays eight matches across Virginia and West Virginia in its first two weekends. The home-opener is set for Wednesday, Sept. 13, against Bowie State, while the Kutztown Classic tournament returns with two days of action at Keystone Arena on Sept. 15-16.
 
Conference-play begins on Sept. 22, as KU will work through an 18-match conference slate, leading up to the regular season finale and Senior Day against West Chester on Saturday, Nov. 11.