Lady Lions Open Season Under New Leadership, Show Promise Despite Setback
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
|
4 | 13 | 7 | 0 |
Team Stats
Penn State Mont Alto
| Game Statistics | Penn State Mont Alto | Penn State Scranton |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting % | .327 | -.184 |
| Blocks | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Digs | 9 | 17 |
| Aces | 20 | 2 |
DUNMORE, Pa. – The Penn State Scranton women's volleyball team officially began a new chapter on Saturday afternoon as they opened their 2025 season under first-year head coach Alahnna Balbach, a former Lady Lion standout. Although Scranton fell 3–0 to visiting Penn State Mont Alto (25–4, 25–13, 25–7), the match highlighted several encouraging signs for a program that is building momentum and looking stronger than in recent seasons.
Coach Balbach, who once wore the blue and white herself, made her debut on the sidelines with energy and poise. She emphasized that the focus this year is on growth, consistency, and developing a competitive mindset — and her squad showed flashes of that potential in front of the home crowd.
Sophomore setter Autumn Koch paced the Lady Lions offensively, registering 3 kills while also contributing 2 service aces and 2 digs for a team-high 5 points. Freshman Emma Finch posted a perfect 2-for-2 hitting performance at the net. Junior outside hitter Maddie Kelsch added a kill, an ace, and 2 digs, showing her versatility on both sides of the court.
Defensively, Scranton was more organized than in past openers, with steady contributions from senior middle hitter Megan Gatto, who helped anchor the back row with timely digs and strong communication.
While Mont Alto's experience and depth proved too much in the opener, the Lady Lions demonstrated improved offensive execution and energy compared to last year's team. With Balbach's leadership and a mix of returning veterans and promising newcomers, Scranton appears primed to take steps forward in 2025.
Penn State Scranton will continue its early-season homestand hosting Penn State Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. With Balbach at the helm and a deeper roster, the Lady Lions will look to turn their early lessons into progress as they aim to climb the conference standings this fall.
