KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown women's volleyball secured its first win of the 2024 regular season, and it came in front of the home crowd, as KU defeated Caldwell in four sets Monday night in a non-conference match at Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (1-13 overall) won by scores of 25-18, 22-25, 25-12 and 25-11.
Looking to get off to a fast start on its home court in the hopes of securing that elusive first victory, the Maroon and Gold did just that, scoring the first three points and five of six overall in the opening set. The Cougars actually took a 9-8 lead, but KU went on a 7-1 run to go up 15-10 and did not allow Caldwell within five points the rest of the way.
The second set started a lot like the first with Kutztown netting five of the first six points, but this time when the Cougars eventually rallied to go ahead at 9-8, they remained in front the rest of the way, pulling away by a larger margin late.
After a back-and-forth opening 12 points that saw the score tied at 6-6, the Golden Bears rattled off five in-a-row and ended the match on a 14-6 run.
Kutztown continued to put the pedal to the metal and jumped out to an 11-2 advantage early on in the fourth match and never looked back.
Sarah Hess (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) finished with team-highs in kills (13) and blocks (3.5).
Bryanna Carter (Abingdon, Md./Edgewood) also finished in double figures in kills with 10 and had one block.
Grace White (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) recorded five kills, three blocks and three digs.
Christina Lockett (Gaithersburg, Md./Tuscarora) tallied six kills.
Anna Parmer (Firestone, Colo./Mead) had three kills, four assists and four digs.
Emma Baldridge (Damascus, Md./Damascus) contributed 12 assists and six digs.
Saige Thibodeaux (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker) added 14 assists and three digs.
Lexi McLanahan (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) led the defense with 13 digs.
Next up, Kutztown hosts its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference matches as it first welcomes Shippensburg to Keystone Arena for a 7 p.m., match this Friday, Oct. 4. KU will then take on Shepherd on Family Day, Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m.
