KUTZTOWN, Pa. (November 3, 2011) – Senior Katie Lutz (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle Antrim) of the Kutztown University women's volleyball team has shined as one of the best defensive players in the country this season.  Standing at six feet tall, Lutz stands out as one of the tallest girls on the team.
 
“I wanted to become a volleyball player because I knew that basketball wasn't for me,” Lutz said. “I am a tall girl so the other 'tall girl' sport is volleyball.  So, that is what I decided to try.”
 
Listening to her neighbor's advice to play volleyball, Lutz made a decision that brought her up as the Golden Bears' lead blocker (112) for two consecutive seasons. As a junior, Lutz led the team and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in blocks (154), was ranked third in the nation in blocks, and had a school-record 20-block performance against West Chester.
 
KU (22-8 overall, 11-6 PSAC East) is currently ranked second in the PSAC East and eighth in the NCAA Atlantic Region. Head women's volleyball coach John Gump holds his confidence in Lutz, knowing she will continue to grow as an athlete throughout the rest of the season.
 
"Katie is one of the best blockers I have ever coached,” Gump said. “She combines good technique with an excellent sense of where to be and the result is tremendous production.  I never feel like I have to give her help."
 
Lutz has made a positive impact on the KU team since her freshman year. With her teammates behind her, Lutz has been able to turn to her team whenever she needed to. Juniors Brianna Risch (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) and Kimberlee Gomber (Washington, PA/Washington) have helped Lutz play her best in every matchup thus far.
 
“Brie has been a big help to me because we are the same position so we really look out for each other and learn a lot from one another,” Lutz said. “Kim, my setter, has also been there to help me because we are attached at the hip every game so we are constantly talking to each other and helping each other out. “
 
With a team that's high in energy, emotional and insane, Lutz has a second family when she plays volleyball. Her teammates have been her high point alongside her athletic success.
 
“We are a crazy bunch that somehow work together to make amazing things happen,” Lutz said. “We work well together and no matter what we always have each others back. My best friends are on this team and I wouldn't have it any other way.”
 
One of Lutz's biggest achievements off the court, along with her close teammates, is the PSAC scholar-athlete award she has won four years in a row. Lutz takes pride in her work in the classroom and always puts being a student first.
 
Lutz's list of achievements doesn't stop with her own statistics and grades, but grows with the success of her team as a whole. Throughout the season, KU has become one of the best defensive teams in the PSAC, and Lutz plans to strengthen that. With two games left in the season, Lutz wants to make KU the number one blocking team in the nation and help take her team to NCAA's.
 
As a senior now, Lutz plans to become a fourth-grade kindergarten teacher after she graduates. With the support of her parents as her biggest fans, Lutz has everything to be thankful for when it comes to her family and teammates.
 
"Katie is a joy to be around and we will really miss her next year,” Gump said. “Her teammates have a great deal of respect for her and her leadership will be hard to replace."
 
The Golden Bears host a matchup this weekend against Cheyney University (0-22, 0-12) on Friday, Nov. 4 beginning at 7 p.m.