-
Sep 3, 630 p
LOU
BAL
-
Sep 5, 5 pm
OW
LOU
-
Sep 5, 5 pm
DES
LOU
-
Sep 10, 430 p
LOU
WI TRIN
-
Sep 10, 430 p
LOU
PIP
-
Sep 12, 630 p
OTT
LOU
-
Sep 14, 8 am
LOU
FRON INV
-
Sep 17, 630 p
BONSP
LOU
-
Sep 24, 630 p
EUD
LOU
-
Sep 26, 5 pm
LOU
FS
-
Sep 26, 5 pm
LOU
GIR
-
Sep 28, 8 am
LOU
LOU INV
-
Oct 1, 630 p
LOU
PAO
-
Oct 3, 630 p
SH
LOU
-
Oct 5, 9 am
LOU
OTT INV
-
Oct 8, 630 p
LOU
TONG
-
Oct 12, 9 am
LOU
ATCH INV
-
Oct 17, 5 pm
LOU
OTT
-
Oct 17, 5 pm
LOU
WAM
-
Sep 3, 6 pm
LOU
BL
-
Sep 5, 6 pm
IND
LOU
-
Sep 10, 6 pm
LOU
PITT
-
Sep 12, 6 pm
LOU
BONSP
-
Sep 17, 6 pm
LAN
LOU
-
Sep 19, 6 pm
LOU
EUD
-
Sep 24, 6 pm
BAL
LOU
-
Sep 26, 6 pm
LOU
SH
-
Oct 1, 6 pm
CHA
LOU
-
Oct 3, 6 pm
OTT
LOU
-
Oct 7, 430 p
LOU
PAR
-
Oct 10, 6 pm
TONG
LOU
-
Oct 15, 6 pm
LOU
PAO
-
Oct 17, 630 p
LOU
LEAV
-
Oct 22, 6 pm
BV
LOU
-
Oct 24, 4 p
LOU
BAL
-
Final
HAR
LOU3
13 -
Final
HAR
LOU1
13 -
Final
LOU
SH0
9 -
Final
BAL
LOU6
12 -
Final
LOU
OTT14
8 -
Final
LOU
OTT21
4 -
Final
SH
LOU4
5 -
Final
WEL
LOU1
14 -
Final
WEL
LOU2
10 -
Final
LOU
BONSP7
0 -
Final
LOU
BONSP5
1 -
Final
LOU
TONG9
4 -
Final
LOU
PIP19
15 -
Final
LOU
PIP5
7 -
Final
LOU
LAN5
4 -
Final
LOU
LAN5
4 -
Final
LOU
BV6
16 -
Apr 25, 430 p
LOU
AC
-
Apr 25, 6 pm
LOU
AC
-
Final
LOU
PV19
3 -
Final
LOU
CHA6
10 -
Final
EUD
LOU5
16 -
Postponed
EUD
LOU
-
Final
LOU
PAO4
11 -
Final
LOU
PAO18
3 -
Final
BL
LOU10
4
-
Final
FRON
LOU11
0 -
Postponed
FRON
LOU
-
Final
BAL
LOU2
13 -
Final
LOU
OTT10
11 -
Final
LOU
OTT10
0 -
Final
SH
LOU13
2 -
Final
SH
LOU16
5 -
Final
WEL
LOU3
4 -
Final
WEL
LOU6
7 -
Final
LOU
BONSP4
1 -
Final
LOU
BONSP13
10 -
Final
LOU
TONG9
4 -
Final
LOU
TONG3
5 -
Final
LOU
MAC5
21 -
Final
LOU
EMP5
2 -
Final
LOU
BVW1
2 -
Final
FS
LOU12
0 -
Final
FS
LOU14
9 -
Final
EUD
LOU14
2 -
Final
LOU
LAN4
5 -
Final
LOU
CHAN0
10 -
Final
LOU
LAN1
3 -
Final
LOU
CHA1
6 -
Final
LOU
PAO9
2 -
Final
LOU
PAO12
3 -
Final
LOU
BAL10
0
-
Final
TONG
LOU51
53 -
Final
LOU
BUR51
63 -
Final
AC
LOU37
44 -
Final
LOU
BAL42
60 -
Final
LOU
FRON57
46 -
Final
LOU
EUD46
53 -
Final OT
LOU
SH60
57 -
Final
BAL
LOU62
46 -
Final
NEK
LOU55
54 -
Final 2OT
GIR
LOU58
56 -
Final
LOU
WAM45
56 -
Final
BON
LOU45
53 -
Final
PAO
LOU16
47 -
Final
LEE
LOU71
46 -
Final
LOU
OTT52
62 -
Final
LOU
TONG45
40 -
Final
SH
LOU44
42 -
Final
EUD
LOU52
49 -
Final
LOU
PAO46
29 -
Final
HAR
LOU57
52
-
Final
TONG
LOU48
28 -
Final
LOU
BUR38
43 -
Final
AC
LOU35
31 -
Final
LOU
BAL23
42 -
Final
LOU
FRON48
55 -
Final
LOU
EUD37
56 -
Final
LOU
SH46
59 -
Final
BAL
LOU52
31 -
Final
NEK
LOU41
49 -
Final
CHA
LOU53
36 -
Final
GIR
LOU42
34 -
Final
LOU
WAM24
63 -
Final
BON
LOU35
40 -
Final
PAO
LOU38
42 -
Final
LOU
OTT29
45 -
Final
LOU
TONG40
39 -
Final
SH
LOU43
37 -
Final
EUD
LOU38
30 -
Final
LOU
PAO39
35 -
Final
HAR
LOU33
40
Dixon fights through injury to achieve pro volleyball dream
- Updated: August 27, 2024
![](https://louisburgsportszone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/convert-1024x682.webp)
Anna Dixon didn’t get a chance to finish her college volleyball career the way she wanted, but she persevered through injury to achieve her dream of playing professional volleyball.
It was setting up to be an epic finish to Anna Dixon’s collegiate volleyball career.
Dixon, as a graduate transfer, made the move to the University of Florida for her final season and quickly made an impact on the Gators’ roster.
Despite have to learn a new position due to an injury on the team, Dixon seemed to flourish. She helped the Gators out to a quick start and everything was going according to plan.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
Dixon suffered a season-ending elbow injury that put a premature end to her collegiate career. It was a devastating blow.
However, instead of sulking, Dixon worked that much harder to get back to the court and achieve her ultimate goal — playing professional volleyball.
All that hard work finally came to fruition back in July when Dixon, a 2019 Louisburg High School graduate, signed with the Atlanta Vibe, which is a part of the Pro Volleyball Federation.
“I am super excited to compete at the highest level, but also to be able to do that here in the US,” Dixon said. “It has been a dream of mine to be able to play professionally, in front of club girls who are in the same shoes that I was in many years ago. I am excited to give them the opportunity to have something to look forward to and work toward. Blessed for the opportunity and ready to get to work.”
Work is all Dixon has done to put herself in a position to achieve her lifelong dream.
After finishing her time with the University of Missouri volleyball program, Dixon transferred to Florida last year for her final season. She joined one of the top teams in the SEC and was looking forward to a postseason run.
An injury to a middle blocker left a void of the Gator team earlier that year, so Dixon volunteered to fill that role despite playing her entire college career on the outside.
Dixon, who stands at 6-foot-3, hadn’t played middle blocker since middle school. She made the process look seamless as she helped the Gators to big early season wins as the vaulted up to No. 3 in the nation at one time.
After making that sacrifice, and finally getting comfortable with her new surroundings, injury struck in October. She quickly had to move from a vital piece on the court, to a cheerleader and assistant coach on the sideline.
“It was really hard seeing my season end so early, especially with the type of season the team was having,” Dixon said. “I was finally getting in the groove of playing in the middle and was figuring it out. I think I was playing the best I had ever played in my college career.
“I was surrounded by such amazing people. Whether I was playing middle, on the bench, playing all six rotations, or whether I was out with injury, it was such a positive, happy environment. I still found ways to contribute to the team even though I wasn’t on the court. I was very thankful for the support system that I had, and the recovery was tough, but I knew the hard work was going to pay off.”
The road to recovery wasn’t going to be an easy one.
For the next five months, Dixon would not only spend it rehabbing her injury, but doubts would start to creep in.
“There were ups and downs for sure,” Dixon said. “I was planning on going pro in January, then I was going through not being a collegiate athlete anymore, not being in school and going through an identity shape as well as rehab and training. A lot of people who are going through rehab always wonder how it is going to turn out and is it going to be the same. I just tried to focus on getting better each day. If it works out great, and if not we will figure out.
“There were certainly low moments for me, but I had an amazing support system that helped me through it and it made those days better.”
![](https://louisburgsportszone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/450463754_122171308712044192_7998887541393122036_n-1024x1024.jpg)
Better days were to come for Dixon and in July, she signed with the Vibe and her career as a professional has become to take shape.
Practice begins in December, while the season runs from January through May. The Vibe, along with the Pro Volleyball Federation, are currently in their second year of existence and Dixon is looking forward to making the move to Atlanta.
“I am excited to feel all the hard work I have put in with my recovery finally pay off,” she said. “I am excited to compete again. Sports gives you a feeling that I think nothing else can give you when competing with your team. I am excited for that competition and to get after it. Also I’m ready to get down to Georgia. I have explored the city a couple times, so looking forward to getting to know the girls.”
Dealing with a difficult injury changed Dixon’s perspective on life, and more specifically, volleyball. It made her appreciate what is in front of her, including those that helped her through such a trying time.
“My biggest goal is not to take any opportunities on the court for granted,” Dixon said. “I remember being out and watching practices every day, I would just think that when I get back out there I am just going to play with a free mind and never take anything for granted again. Now that I am training and practicing again, I am already feeling myself putting expectations on myself again. It is great to have goals, but as a player I am better when I am focused on the present moment and taking it one day at a time. I just want to continue that mindset throughout the season and do the best I can.
“I also have a wonderful support system around me and I couldn’t have done it without them. I have grown tremendously in my faith throughout this past year. I have always known, that when I got hurt, His plans were going to be greater, whatever that may look like. I am just excited to see what those plans are for me in Atlanta.”