Photo submitted to Daily Mining Gazette Panthers libero Megan Utlak poses with a volleyball for a photo before last season. Utlak will join the Huskies this fall.

HOUGHTON — In the sport of volleyball, hitters get most of the glory on a given play as they are the ones who typically come up with the key block or deliver the heavy swing that knocks a ball into the back row, out of reach of all the defenders.

But how do they get the ball in the first place?

Often times, they are passed to by a setter, whose job it is to literally “set up” the big hits.

And how does a setter get a ball to pass? They often take a pass from a defensive specialist.

Incoming Michigan Tech freshman Megan Utlak is a defensive specialist, and while she will never score the kinds of points like Mariah Sherman, or a make key blocks similar to Lauren Emmert, Utlak will affect things in the Michigan Tech offense from the back row in important ways.

She fully embraces her role.

“If I am doing my job [to] the best [of my ability], that usually means my teammates are scoring,” said Utlak. “Their job is that much easier. During the game, I probably get more excited and happiness when my teammates are scoring. That is awesome for me.”

The Parma, Ohio, native grew up just outside of Cleveland and comes from The Academy Volleyball of Cleveland, where she was a key defender throughout her four years of high school.

While she has developed into a strong defender, there is another skill that she developed during her time with The Academy and with her high school team, the Parma Panthers: her ability to lead.

“Developing my character was really big for me,” said Utlak. “I really tried to help out the younger girls. It was tough, but it built me mentally.”

Utlak, who was chosen as a team captain with the Panthers starting her sophomore year, likes to the be the center of attention on the court. With that challenge comes the responsibility of making sure her teammates are fully supported, and that is where Utlak shines.

“I’m always been one to take on a leadership role,” said Utlak. “It is a little bit natural for me. Passing on my knowledge, I have been playing since I was nine, that is important to me. You are not a good teammate if you are just good, physically. You have to make other people better.”

Communication on the court has become one of the most important aspects of Utlak’s game.

“I am really big on communication,” said Utlak. “Even amongst the back row players, it is important, talking before, so you are ready for every play — and talking during. It’s even our job to tell the hitters what is open, where to hit.”

While she is not the tallest player on the court, the 5-foot-6 Utlak has the goal of being the one of the loudest, and the positive energy she exudes rubs off quickly on those around her.

Growing up in Parma, Utlak played all six rotations as much as she could, finishing her final season with the Panthers with a 20.8 percent kill percentage. Where she really shone was defensively, which is what drew the attention of Huskies head coach Matt Jennings. In her final two seasons with the Panthers, Utlak averaged 7.3 and 7.0 digs per set.

“[She’s] a Division I-caliber player,” said Jennings. “She was the starting libero on her club team that was one of the best club teams in the country for her age division and was a starting captain… Talent-wise, she comes to us ready to contribute right away.”

The fact that Utlak carries herself confidently was a bonus for Jennings and his staff. The Huskies coaches are already envisioning playing her in the back row alongside seniors Elle Heinonen and Halie Hart.

“[She has] a little swag,” said Jennings. “She has a confidence about her that I think will be welcomed here. I think she has the work ethic to do it.

“If you put her next to Elle and Halie in the back row, I’m telling you right now that’s a game-changer. In terms of what she will do for us in terms of passing, it’s tremendous. I think Elle, Halie, Kristine [Fink] and our other defenders will be better because of it.”

While Houghton is over 700 miles from Parma, which would make it a tough sell to most Ohio-born student athletes, Utlak saw Michigan Tech as a place she was interested in from the moment she made contact with the coaching staff. Even though the distance was a hurdle for her to scale, Utlak found herself quickly falling in love with the university, thanks in large part to its school’s engineering reputation.

“I just saw more for me,” said Utlak. “Ever since I started thinking about college volleyball, I always saw myself going far away from home because I wanted it to be a new experience.”

Utlak committed to Michigan Tech two years ago last month, and to have landed a player that confident in herself and her abilities was a real find for Jennings.

“Megan was the first player in this class that we recruited; the first one that we have gotten from Ohio,” said Jennings. “If you think about all of the opponent schools she has to pass on her drive to the U.P., we are happy to have her.”

With the addition of a player like Utlak, the Huskies’ backcourt could be very tough this season and beyond. If she continues to develop into a leader for the Huskies in the coming seasons, that will be a big bonus for Michigan Tech as it looks towards the future.