When consistency and hard work meets high volleyball IQ, there is little that a player can’t accomplish. Dan Lutz (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) has proven early on this season that this trifecta not only allows for individual success but also adds another layer of depth to an already skilled team.
Lutz was recently named the Continental Volleyball Conference Player of the Week after his performance in EMU’s first five matches, which happened to be played in a four-day stretch. It comes as no surprise that he earned another accolade and was named Royals Athlete of the Week as well.
Lutz made an immediate impact in the 2018 season after averaging 2.40 kills and 1.15 blocks over five matches. He had seven kills and five blocks in a sweep of #3 SUNY New Paltz and tied his career high with 12 kills against SUNY Poly.
EMU’s men took SUNY Poly to five close sets after having two late matches the night before. Part of their success in rallying for the win was due to mental toughness, which has been an emphasized philosophy brought to the team with the new coaching staff.
“The biggest reason we lost two sets to them in the first place was because of frequently missed serves,” Lutz said. “We had to apply mental toughness to not get down on ourselves and continue to play our game through the fatigue.”
The men have already played two nationally ranked teams and another team who received votes just outside of the top 15. With a challenging schedule and two new coaches to the program, some would consider this season to be a rebuilding year for EMU’s men.
However, Lutz would argue otherwise.
“Our schedule is miles tougher than last year, both in frequency and level of competition,” he said. “Our coaching staff does a great job of scouting the team and educating us as much as possible to set up game plans for success.”
Lutz has already noticed a change in his individual level of play because of the guidance from head coach Danielle Lickey and assistant coach Jack Wilson.
“I can already see improvement in my game based off of the criticisms and advice they give me on the court,” Lutz said. He is leading the CVC with a .453 hitting percentage as well as 23 total blocks. He also hit .444 or better in four of the matches.
According to Lickey, it’s his “thirst for knowledge” and appreciation for instruction that have allowed him to re-establish himself as one of the top middle blockers in the CVC.
“He faces the challenges of growth head on, understanding the process of progress, and is able to do so as a role model through his attitude towards the hard work that is required,” she said. “I have never seen him be anything but a great teammate, leader, and player.”
Upon earning CVC Player of the Week and Royals Athlete of the Week honors, Lutz said, “I feel very proud because I always believed I had a certain potential that I was never able to attain, but I believe it is a direct result of the coaching that I have received up until now. I am making my first steps towards my personal goals.”
Off the court, Lutz is a biochemistry major and plans on pursuing a pharmaceutical degree after a gap year of “mystery and adventure.” He also serves as co-president with teammate Tim Callahan (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) for EMU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
“I am blessed to have inherited such a person on my team,” said Lickey. “He has made my transition into this position exponentially easier, as I depend on him to lead by example and with class.”