So, there’s the long-and-lean setter, the shortest setter with the biggest skill set, so how about a nod towards the FASTEST setter? Kiersten’s foot speed in getting to the second contact is second to none, and her quickness keeps her teams in-system more often than not. A setter must be able to take a bad pass and make it better—-and Miss Lutz makes it look easy because of her quickness. Add to it that her hands and set placement for her hitters are above average for this (or any) class, and you have a high-end next-level setter in the making.

Speed, speed, and more speed. No matter where the ball is passed, Kiersten uses her lightning-fast speed to get to every ball, no questions asked. With tight passes, Miss Lutz uses athleticism and that same speed to keep a tight pass on her side and make it hittable. Well-trained footwork, strong hands and an innate ability to always make the smart play allows Kiersten to be one of the top setters in this class.

What instantly stood out to me most about Lutz was her quickness in getting to less-than-perfect digs and passes and then making sure she gave her hitters a ball they could do something with. During drills and hitting lines you could tell the attackers were excited to be with her, knowing they were going to get accurate and consistent sets that they could terminate. Kiersten is also a solid blocker on the right side who got lots of touches and some stuff blocks – she doesn’t just get her fingers above the net like many setters her age, she actually blocks and does it effectively. Lastly, this young lady is strong and can push a ball clear across the court, allowing her side to be in system the majority of the time, no matter where the pass was. If Lutz can continue to work on being more vocal as a floor leader, she has a bright future ahead of her as a setter at both Circle City and Noblesville.

Kiersten has all the attributes of a great setter. She is gritty, scrappy, and talented on defense. Kiersten moves the ball around with confidence and has a great connection with her hitters. She was so impressive throughout the tournament, consistently playing at a high level and as a leader for her team.