Drews Fuels USA’s Sweep of Brazil
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue volleyball alumna Annie Drews continues to turn heads with USA Volleyball after lifting the American’s to a sweep of Brazil in the USA Volleyball Cup in Anaheim, California. The Elkhart, Indiana, native dropped 21 kills on the No. 4 team in the world 25-21, 25-14, 29-27 including a bonus set.
No. 2 USA’s roster was bolstered by four Olympians yet, Drews still managed to steal the spotlight on the right side. Drews finished the four-set contest with 16 kills on 38 swings, complemented by four blocks and an ace. In the three official sets, she registered she found the floor on 14 of her 26 attempts with just three errors to go along with three blocks and an ace.
This has been a trend for Drews this summer as she has stepped up for the Americans in each opportunity she’s been given by Karch Kiraly and company. After leading her pro team Caguas win the Puerto Rican Superliga, she began training with Team USA and was selected to the Pan American Cup Roster.
Over the course of seven matches and two starts, Drews posted 54 kills and just 14 errors on 108 attempts for a .370 hitting percentage to fuel USA’s Pan Am Cup Championship. She proved to be one of USA’s top offensive options throughout the tournament as she posted the team’s highest hitting percentage and was tied for the second most kills.
USA then added Drews to the roster again for the FIVB World Grand Prix Final Six after leaving her off of the roster for the preliminary rounds. Drews provided the spark the Americans needed off the bench, despite the United State’s losing each of their Finals Round matches. She scored 10 points against Serbia and a team-best 16 points against Italy. She led all Americans, totaling 25 kills and 65 attempts to go along with seven digs and a block. Of USA’s top three point scorers, Drews was the only player to come off the bench as she appeared in six of a possible nine sets.
The U.S. Women will host Brazil in the second and final USA Volleyball Cup match on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. PT at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena. Fans can bring in their ticket from Sunday’s USA-Brazil match and get a 50 percent discount to Tuesday’s match. For fans not in the Anaheim area, the match will air live on NBC Sports Network.
