KUTZTOWN, Pa. – No. 16 Kutztown, coming off a season where it won the most games in 13 seasons, was selected fourth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division preseason poll, as voted on by the head coaches and announced Wednesday.
 
The Golden Bears finished last season with a 43-19 overall record and 21-11 mark in the PSAC. The 43 victories is the most in a single season since 2012. They were NCAA Regional champions for the second straight season and third in the last four, advancing to the Super Regionals, before falling to Shippensburg in the best-of-three series. The Maroon and Gold earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season and 23rd time in program history.
 
East Stroudsburg was voted first with six of the nine first place votes, while the Raiders were second with two first place votes and Shepherd third with one first place vote. West Chester appeared fifth, ahead of Bloomsburg, Millersville, Lock Haven and Mansfield, rounding out the nine East teams.
 
KU finished 2025 ranked 14th in the final poll, but was unranked entering that season. There are 14 members returning from last season's squad, including All-Region and All-PSAC East performers Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) and Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg), along with All-PSAC East selections Morgan Slomkowski (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) and Alexa Stevens (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono).
 
Kutztown was scheduled to open its 2026 regular season this weekend at the UNC Pembroke Invitational, but weather forced cancellations and it will not make the trip. The Golden Bears are looking to make it back next weekend, but as of now, they are set to begin the season at the Francis Marion Patriot Invitational in Florence, S.C., on Saturday, Feb. 21, and Sunday, Feb. 22.