This will be Santiago's first time playing with an Olympic gold medalist.
It’s not every day you get to play with an Olympic gold medalist. More so, if he or she becomes your teammate.
That’s why Jaja Santiago couldn't hide her excitement about hearing the news that her new team brought back Annie Drews, who played for the US volleyball team that brought home the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In an Instagram post, Santiago, who signed with JT Marvelous in Japan V.League back in June, immediately welcomed her new teammate.
"Can't wait for this exciting experience with you @adrews04," Santiago wrote in her post.
Drews, though, is no stranger to the JT Marvelous, having been the team’s import in the 2019-2020 Japan V.League Division 1 season.
In that season, JT Marvelous emerged as the Champions of the Japan V.League Division 1, where Drews was hailed as the Best Opposite Hitter and Most Valuable Player.
The 6-foot-3 lefty opposite spiker has pretty much accomplished everything there is in volleyball. Aside from being an Olympic champion, she is a silver medalist at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup and 3-time VNL champion.
Santiago, meanwhile, earned recognition as one of the season's premier middle blockers, thanks to her instrumental role in guiding Saitama Ageo Medics to the semifinals. However, in her final appearance for the squad last April, the team finished in fourth place.
Playing with a proven winner like Drews will be a big boost to the 6-foot-5 middle blocker's confidence and chances of bring home another title in Japan.
Drews and Santiago can probably learn speaking Japanese together, too, and Jaja might be able to give her some tips.
Definitely some exciting times for JT Marvelous.
(GM)