Utah Volleyball All-American Dani Drews Returning For One More Season
Apr 30, 2021, 3:22 PM
Utah outside hitter Dani Drews (1) celebrates after a point during the fifth set of a first-round volleyball game in the 2019 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. (Colter Peterson, Deseret News)
(Colter Peterson, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah volleyball All-American Dani Drews announced that she will be returning for one more season with the Utes.
RELATED STORIES
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, college eligibility was frozen which gave Dani Drews the opportunity to come back to Utah volleyball for one more season.
“I had a meeting with Coach Beth (Launiere) and in my mind it just clicked that it doesn’t make sense not to take advantage of this huge opportunity,” Drews said. “I think college only lasts so long, and I kept thinking that having an extra season is something most athletes would kill for. I truly love this team and have so much fun competing and working hard with them. I want to be here now and have one last really good season.”
We have some big news this morning. DANI IS COMING BACK THIS FALL!#UteStrong pic.twitter.com/ATbWeh8Twd
— Utah Volleyball (@UtahVolleyball) April 30, 2021
This is massive news for Utah volleyball as Drews is coming off of a tremendous season, winning Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pacific South Region Player of the Year and first team All-American honors for the second straight season.
“We’re very happy that Dani has chosen to return for her senior season,” head coach Beth Launiere said. “She is a special player and even more of a special person. Dani is a committed, loyal team player who wants to finish her career with her teammates, and in the Utah program that she has been such an integral part of for the last four years.”
We're excited we get to watch Dani for one more season this fall!
🗞️ https://t.co/PqNRKPXgKv pic.twitter.com/SYKboc4D8Q
— Utah Volleyball (@UtahVolleyball) April 30, 2021
Drews had the chance to go play professionally somewhere but decided that one more year at Utah would benefit her. She is second in Utah volleyball history with 1,687 kills. Her resume also includes All-American honors three times and has helped the Utes reach the Sweet 16 twice in the NCAA Tournament and a top 10 ranking for most of the 2020 season.
“This group is so bought into everything we want a good team culture to be,” Drews said. “We all love each other and respect each other and are willing to do whatever it takes to be the best team we can be. I can’t wait to be back for another season competing in front of all of our fans in the Huntsman Center.”
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
[ss-signup design_id=”2289525″]
