Tori Dixon was an important member of the USA team before injury struck
Lausanne, Switzerland, February 2, 2017 – After a long year Tori Dixon is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and the chance to return to the volleyball court.
A year ago, January 23, she suffered an ACL tear while playing for her team Toray Arrows in the Japanese league. It came in the middle of a match and surgery followed on February 1, nine days after the injury occurred.
She immediately began her rehabilitation to give her a chance to be fit in time for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, where Karch Kiraly’s team won bronze, but in the end had to settle for watching the action from home.
“I knew I was not anywhere near ready to compete at that high of a level in August,”
she told USA Volleyball. “Every girl selected to the roster deserved to be there, and I was so excited for them.
“I went into my recovery knowing it was going to be very hard. I made the decisions with my short- and long-term goals in mind. I wanted to make it back before the Olympics, but I wasn’t willing to risk my future to do so.
Prior to injury Dixon appeared a sure selection for Kiraly’s squad. She was part of the team that won the Italy 2014, FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship and the 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix.
She was named best blocker as the USA won bronze at the FIVB World Cup and qualified for Rio 2016 at the NORCECA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
For now, she is hard at work training at the National Volleyball Centre in Anaheim, California and contemplating a number of offers from professional clubs.
“It has been going well,” she said. “I would say in terms of strength and stability my knee is close to 100 percent. However, I don’t think as a volleyball player I’m back to 100 percent.