LAKEWOOD, NJ (Sept. 9, 2026) - Georgian Court Volleyball welcomed Kutztown into the Wellness Center for the first week with students back Wednesday evening. In front of a packed arena, the Lions put up a valiant effort against a strong Golden Bear team, but were taken down in four sets, 19-25, 25-27, 26-24, 20-25.
How it Happened
• Kutztown's hitters were out in full force. They hit .283 for the match with 60 total kills to just 17 errors.
• The Golden Bears also did a good job not allowing the Lions blockers many opportunities to swat back attacks. GCU had just two blocks on the night. KU put back eight.
• GCU was able to make up some points on the serve. Kutztown landed 10 aces, but also hit 15 service errors. Georgian Court hit eight aces and eight errors. All totaled, the Lions were a +5 on points that ended on the serve.
• The match had plenty of tie scores and lead changes. There were 32 total ties and 13 lead changes in the four sets. Sets two and three in particular featured at least 11 ties each and set three saw eight lead changes.
Set 1
• For a match that featured 32 ties and 13 lead changes, set one did not highlight that back-and-forth nature.
• Kutztown scored six straight early and led 6-1 and never trailed after the Lions scored the first point.
• GCU nearly mounted a late comeback. Trailing 23-16, the Lions scored three straight and built some momentum.
• A timeout though halted the rally as Kutztown landed two kills for a 25-19 set one win.
Set 2
• The second set was the first real nail-biter.
• Neither team led by more than three points at any point during the set.
• Coming down the stretch, the score was tied at 20, 21, 23, 24 and 25.
• Twice GCU was down to set point when
Keira Mullen kept things alive with a kill.
• Tied again at 25, the Golden Bears finished off the set with a kill and an ace to take a 2-0 lead.
• Kutztown hit .333 in both sets one and two.
Set 3
• Extra points were also needed in set three.
• Georgian Court led for much of the early portion of the frame.
• Kutztown went on a 3-0 run to take their first lead, 11-10, following consecutive blocks.
• At no point in the set did either team ever lead by more than two points.
• The jockeying for points continued and Kutztown was eyeing a sweep up 23-21.
• Georgian Court stayed alive getting three straight points, with two
Flavia Pecora kills.
• Tied at 24, it was the setter,
Maggy Hallihan, who gave the Lions the lead with a kill and
Roshell Chevres Sanchez finished off the set with an ace to force a fourth frame.
Set 4
• After staving off a sweep, Georgian Court never led in set four.
• Kutztown took and early lead, and even though the Lions tied the score on five occasions, could never go out in front.
• Mullen tied the set at seven with a kill, but that was followed by an 8-2 Kutztown run to take a 15-9 lead.
• The Golden Bears pushed the lead to as much as seven and cruised from there, winning 25-20.
Lion Stat Leaders
•
Keira Mullen had an 18-kill, 14-dig double-double to go along with three assists, two aces and a block.
• On the defensive side,
Carmen Rivera Colon had a big day with 30 digs.
•
Roshell Chevres Sanchez was two digs shy of a double-double with 18 assists and eight digs.
•
Maggy Hallihan chipped in 15 assists, four kills and four digs.
•
Flavia Pecora hit .455 with six kills on 11 attempts.
•
Ava Churnesky picked up eight kills and six digs.
For the Golden Bears
• Paige Skinner scored 27 total points with 22 kills, while hitting .286, with four aces and two blocks. She also picked up 10 digs.
• Madilyn Bogovic was also in double-figure kills with 13 and 16 digs.
• Saige Thibodeaux scooped 27 digs and scored an a service ace.
• Emma Baldridge passed out 27 assists while Abby Polo added 24.
News and Notes
•
Carmen Rivera Colon's 30 digs match a career-high for the reigning CACC Defensive Player of the Week set back in 2024. It's her first time ever reaching 30 in a four-set match.
• The last time a Lions had more than 30 digs in a match was Emily McCurley in 2019. She had 31. No Lion has had more than 30 kills in just four sets in the last 10 years. Â
• This is the Lions first home loss to the Golden Bears since 2018, spanning three matches.
Up Next
• Georgian Court has another match left this week. They play at Mercy Friday, Sept. 11 at 6 pm.Â
