OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – University of Utah outside hitter
Dani Drews has been named one of 30 candidates for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award, recognizing those who excel both on and off the court.
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An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Candidates selected have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
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Drews, who is majoring in Parks, Recreation and Tourism, is expected to graduate in the spring of 2022 and has been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll four times. The fifth year senior has excelled athletically during her Ute career, rewriting the record books and leaving her mark as arguably the most decorated Utah volleyball player in history.
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She is the only player to become a two-time first team AVCA All-American, as well as the only player in school history to win back-to-back AVCA Region Player of the Year awards. She is a three-time All-Pac-12 honoree and is the program's first ever Pac-12 Player of the Year. She is second all-time in program history in career kills with just 10 more kills to go before breaking the record. Drews holds the single-match record for kills in a three set, four set and five set match.
Off the court, Drews has participated in many service projects during her time as a Ute. She was a volunteer coach for various clinics, coaching elementary school and middle school levels. She also has participated in a volunteer volleyball tournament with refugees through the Refugee Education and Training Center. Drews has also been involved in a Salt Lake City downtown cleanup project, as well as volunteered at an elementary school game night.
She also is completing an internship this semester to add to her classwork, working with Voice in Sport. Drews is taking part in discussions that raise awareness for women in sport, examining Title IX concerns and more to bring more visibility to women's sports.
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The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The winner will be announced during the 2021 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in December.
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2021 Senior CLASS Award Volleyball Candidates
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Rachel Ahrens, Pepperdine                                   Â
Grace Massey, Oregon State
Dana Axner, FGCUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Mac May, UCLA
Tina Boe, Denver                                                   Â
Jonni Parker, Penn State
Julia Brown, William & Mary                                  Â
Jamie Peterson, Dayton
Miajavon Coleman, Coppin State                          Â
Dana Rettke, Wisconsin
Ciara Debell, Marshall                                            Â
Sydney Rowan, Charlotte
Dani Drews, Utah                                                   Â
Avery Skinner, Baylor
Kennedy Eschenberg, BYU Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Samantha Slaughter, South Dakota
Emma Granger, Robert Morris                               Â
Alli Stumler, Kentucky
Thayer Hall, Florida                                                Â
Lexi Sun, Nebraska
Sydney Hilley, Wisconsin                                       Â
Maya Taylor, Saint Louis
Paige Jones, Michigan                                           Â
Hannah Thompson, Bradley
Bailey Keith, Air Force                                           Â
Cortney VanLiew, FGCU
Nicole Lennon, Rice                                              Â
Kayla White, UNCG
Kayla Lund, Pittsburgh                                           Â
Jaela Zimmerman, Creighton
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