USA Volleyball has added Annie Drews to their roster for the FIVB World Grand Prix Final 6 that begins on Wednesday. She will replace Liz McMahon as the only change to the roster that Team USA used throughout the preliminary stage of the event.
Drews, a former Purdue All-American, recently signed a contract to play with SASB Volleyball Legano in Italy’s Serie A2. She was named the MVP of the Puerto Rican league last season.
McMahon played sparingly in the United States’ first 9 games of the tournament, scoring 21 points on 20 points and a block in a reserve role.
This will be Drews’ biggest appointment yet, after playing earlier this year on the 2017 Pan American Cup team that went undefeated en route to a continental title. She’ll bring size to the American squad, measuring in at 6’4″ tall at outside hitter, though she’s still shorter than the 6’6″ McMahon.
A spokesperson for USA Volleyball said he was unaware of any injuries, and that the move was a coaches’ decision. The team has been back home in Anaheim training for a few days before the Final 6 – allowing the opportunity to make a change after weeks on the road. There were no other changes to the team’s roster throughout the first week of play.
The United States was the 2nd-best team in the preliminary rounds, but bumps down to the 3rd seed because the hosts, China, are automatically the top seed. That means they’ll play both Italy and defending Olympic silver medalists Serbia in Final 6 pool play, needing to win at least one of those matches to advance to the four-team knockout bracket.
Great news for Boilermaker @usavolleyball fans! @annie_drews has been added to the #FIVBGrandPrix roster for #Final6 pool play! ?? #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/4uSv7tSzu5
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) July 31, 2017
Team USA’s roster for the Grand Prix Final 6:
# – Player (Position, Height, College, Hometown)
1 – Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Penn State, Edmond, Oklahoma)
3 – Carli Lloyd (S, 5-11, California, Bonsall, California)
4 – Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Nebraska, Cypress, California)
5 – Sarah Wilhite (OH, 6-1, Minnesota, Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
6 – Tori Dixon (M, 6-3, Minnesota, Burnsville, Minnesota)
8 – Lauren Gibbemeyer (M, 6-2, Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota)
9 – Madi Kingdon (OH, 6-1, Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona)
11 – Annie Drews (OPP, 6-4, Elkhart, Indiana, Purdue)
12 – Kelly Murphy (OPP, 6-2, Florida, Wilmington, Illinois)
14 – Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (OH, 6-3, Illinois, Maryville, Illinois)
17 – Megan Courtney (OH, 6-1, Penn State, Dayton, Ohio)
19 – Hannah Tapp (M, 6-2, Minnesota, Stewartville, Minnesota)
20 – Amanda Benson (L, 5-7, Oregon, Litchfield Park, Arizona)
21 – Paige Tapp (M, 6-1, Minnesota, Stewartville, Minnesota)
Leave a Reply