Dani Drews on Ted Lasso, optimism and returning to AU

AU Pro Volleyball warmly welcomed Drews back to the league after playing overseas last year. As a rookie, she played with AU in 2022 and was one of the season’s stars. Drews earned the third-place medal, was named to the All-Position team, and was second in the league in kills with 222.

Those five weeks of competition gave Drews confirmation she could make it at the next level.

“That first taste of international pro volleyball I feel like helped me grow up a lot, but then also kind of made me question like, ‘Oh my gosh, can I really do this? Can I play pro?'”

She had a brief stint playing in Poland after finishing her collegiate career at the University of Utah and left feeling unsure. “[AU] was such a time of reigniting my love for the game feeling so much joy… I’m doing the job I love. I can do this and enjoy it while I’m doing it,” Drews said.

Drews has played for notable international organizations in her three years as a pro. She played in Italy with Cuneo Granda San Bernardo for the 2022-23 season then went to Japan to play for the NEC Red Rockets for 2023-24.

Her team finished first in the Asain Club Championship, Empress Cup All Japan Championship, and the Japan SV.League. They ranked fifth among 12 teams in the Japan V.League Division 1 V Cup.

Dani Rojas’ motto is “Football is life.” For Dani Drews, “Volleyball is life.”

Drews felt like she truly got to live out that lifestyle while playing in Japan where the schedule is volleyball all day, all the time. Drews loved it and embraced the rigorous practice and training schedule many Japanese sports organizations are known for.

She also switched positions that season, playing opposite instead of outside hitter. Internationally, the opposite is more heavily utilized than in the States and it challenged Drews as a hitter.

“I felt like playing opposite was really freeing in the sense of not having to worry about serve receive… to just go hit the ball,” Drews said. “In big moments you’re getting the ball, and so I think that helped me grow too, to get a little bit better under pressure and try and clutch up for my team when the time comes.”

Now back with AU Pro Volleyball, Drews has worked to hone back in on her serve receive, staying extra time after practice to pass and get comfortable in that role for her teams again. She also feels like she’s gotten away from the habit of “swinging her way out of trouble” and instead is working to take smart shots. Drews said she still falls back into it at times, swinging away and getting stuffed or making an error, but she’s been focusing on trying to be a more creative attacker.

“I’ve been trying to make growth in my game just by trying to find different solutions and different ways to score or at least put pressure on the other team.”

While she looks the same, always grinning and quick to a high-five with her teammates, Drews’ game has evolved. She has climbed to the top of the leaderboard once before and now a more seasoned pro, has a chance to do it again. But she’s keeping her same mentality from 2022.

“I am really focusing on helping others around me, the points and the wins will take care of itself. One of my intentions for this season is to be the best teammate that I can be and try and bring the best out of the members of my team that I can,” Drews said.

Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Twitter @savannaecollins.