KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown women's volleyball is set to begin a new season under the guidance of a new head coach when the 2025 regular season kicks off early next month.
 
Jason Barshinger takes over the helm and is looking to inject a new and positive energy into the Golden Bears program, one that has had just one winning season since 2011. He enters a program with a ton of youth that he can help mold towards his ideas and philosophies.
 
"This group needs to be the building block of a program looking to change directions, and I believe we have the right players for that," said Barshinger. "The desire to get better every day is there, and everyone from the players to the coaching staff is showing a very focused approach to taking the right steps forward. That is extremely energizing to see on a daily basis. I'm also eager to learn more about our players and their goals on and off the court as we progress through the year. We have a determined and hard-working group, and I want to see them utilize that focus and energy both on the court and in the classroom."
 
There are just three seniors on the 2025 roster: liberos Mallory Hoch (Zionsville, Pa./Southern Lehigh) and Emma Stalsitz (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and outside hitter Tessa Van Dam (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley). Hoch, who brings with her the most experience on the team, played in all 28 matches last season, making 17 starts, and has appeared in 55 career matches. Stalsitz played in 16 matches in 2024 before being injured. Van Dam appeared in 22 matches last season.
 
Junior libero Kristina Diaz (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park) made 17 appearances last season and two junior transfers join the program in setter Alice Frank (Allentown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) and defensive specialist Paige Skinner (Placerville, Calif./Ponderosa).
 
The sophomore class is arguably the strongest and largest when it comes to returning contributors. Setter Emma Baldridge (Damascus, Md./Damascus) played in all 28 matches, while libero Saige Thibodeaux (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker), outside hitter Madison Lowe (Kearneysville, W. Va./Jefferson) and middle hitters Macy Shewmake (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and Grace White (Pennsburg, Pa./Quakertown) all appeared in 26 matches. White is the leading returner in kills with 138 and blocks with 68, while Baldridge (329) and Thibodeaux (315) combined for 644 of the team's 849 assists.
 
Eight freshmen will join Barshinger also embarking on their first season in Maroon and Gold.
 
"As a team only two weeks into this campaign, we're beginning to see and believe that we can play at a higher level," Barshinger said. "We are a very young group with eight freshmen. We have two transfers that came in as juniors. That's a lot of new that is suddenly finding themselves on the court together, and that can sometimes be a daunting task to pull together. This group is coming together quickly. We're seeing continued growth, and I'm proud of the effort that they are showing on a daily basis."
 
Kutztown's 2025 regular season opens up at home next Friday, Sept. 5, with a non-conference match against Chestnut Hill at 6 p.m., from Keystone Arena. After a tri-match with Lincoln and Holy Family in Philadelphia the next day, KU returns home for the Shannon Sullivan Memorial Tournament on Friday, Sept. 12, and Saturday, Sept. 13.