From the venerable, wooden courts in the Olive Garden to the sleek, modern floors at the University of California, Los Angeles,  Katerina Lutz’s (‘23) passion and outlook on life and community stay constant throughout her volleyball journey.  

Lutz began playing indoor volleyball at 8 years old and participated in clinics at Wave Volleyball Club. Then, in many years, she finalized her commitment to UCLA to play Division I volleyball as a Defensive Specialist and Libero. 

Leading up to her commitment, Lutz was a sophomore player on the school’s varsity girls volleyball team and trained at Wave Volleyball Club with its top-performing team.

“[The school] was such a highly competitive environment; [it] felt like a privilege,” Lutz said. “It’s a privilege to play under pressure and experience competitive environments from a young age. I loved leaning into that competition and being part of a team. It was something I truly valued.”

Lutz recalls that the community and “people there are amazing.”

“Everyone wants you to do your best and succeed,” Lutz said. “The coaches and teammates, especially Coach Brennan, played a huge role. They supported us not only athletically but also through navigating high school, which comes with a lot of unknowns. The lessons we learned went far beyond volleyball.”

The start of her volleyball journey was possible with the “incredible support of her family,” according to Lutz. 

“They’ve always been there for me and never put unnecessary pressure on me,” Lutz said. “That allowed me to enjoy the sport, focus on having fun, and grow naturally. Knowing they supported me no matter what made a huge difference.”

Her “forever family” began when Lutz was born in Siberia, Russia. When her parents adopted her at 1 year old, she joined the “Lutz family,” along with her two brothers, whom the family adopted prior. By this, Lutz was “given a new life, and an opportunity to pursue her goals.”

Lutz felt that learning about her adoption at a young age “put things into perspective.” It also propelled her to advocate for adoption and encourage adults to change the lives of over 400,000 foster kids in the United States today. 

With her online platform on Instagram (@katlutz_), Lutz spreads awareness of the importance of adoption and the ongoing issues in the foster care system. She supports the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, AdoptUSKids and Nightlight Christian Adoptions through online media content and sharing her own story. In addition, Lutz started media campaigns to promote foster parenting and adoption, providing resources such as links  on “how to get started with adopting or fostering a child to local social service agencies.” Lutz also partnered with the BIG 10 Women’s Volleyball Conference to share and spread her story.

Every November, during Adoption Awareness Month, Lutz campaigns at UCLA, collaborating with Good Morning UCLA to reach a larger audience, and online through UCLA Women’s Volleyball.

“My goal here at UCLA is to raise awareness around foster care and adoption,” Lutz said. “I’ve been able to promote the cause at games and

have created social media campaigns to really spread the word.”

Beyond her advocacy, Lutz is a student athlete focused on “becoming a better person every day.”

“In season, there’s a lot of training and travel, especially starting in August,” Lutz said. “The middle of the day is usually all volleyball, with classes in the morning and evening. We get one off day a week to reset. It’s busy, but you learn to find time to rest, hang out with friends, or recharge.”

Coming from a competitive, work-hard environment at this school, playing frequent games and attending practices helped Lutz “prepare for college.”

“Torrey Pines did a great job mimicking the academic and athletic rigor of college,” Lutz said. “Being a student-athlete comes with high demands, and that experience made the transition much smoother.”

Before her commitment to UCLA, like most athletes hoping to go Division I, Lutz made highlight reels and sent videos to potential universities and colleges.

Lutz had the support of her recruiting coordinator at her club, Wave Volleyball Club, during this process.

“[Wave] helped a lot with connections,” Lutz said. “But recruiting is really what you make of it. You get out what you put in. Between Wave, Torrey Pines and various connections, there was a lot of support and guidance, and it was definitely worth the work.”

When considering her options, Lutz found that UCLA was a “perfect fit.”

“UCLA offered a great balance between academics and athletics,” Lutz said. “It’s a prestigious institution, and I really valued receiving a strong education while competing at a high level. I loved the coaching staff, being in California, and being relatively close to home. All of that played a big role in my decision.”

Today, Lutz can be found in the gym working out with her team, training or leading her team off and on the court. 

For young athletes, Lutz emphasizes the importance of “having fun and being yourself.”

“It’s easy to get caught up in who’s watching or trying to get recruited, but that can take away from playing your best,” Lutz said. “When you’re present and enjoying the game with your teammates, that’s when you perform your best. Don’t worry too much about what others think.”

At UCLA, Lutz is on a team that “teaches so many life lessons — communication, leadership, and responsibility — that apply far beyond sports.” As she begins to realize she is finishing her undergraduate degree, Lutz is looking to possibly pursue a master’s degree and a teaching credential for her future career.

“I’m just really grateful for my time at Torrey Pines,” Lutz said. “It’s an academically and athletically rigorous school that prepares students well for college and life beyond — cherish it.”