After being named team captain and playing a strong junior season, Missouri volleyball outside hitter Anna Dixon was selected to train with the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team this summer. This selection followed the open tryouts she attended Feb. 25-27.
During her junior season, Dixon recorded 380 kills with an average of 3.45 kills per set, topping all her teammates. She produced a career-high of 27 kills in Missouri’s game against Auburn Oct. 17, leading the Tigers to one of their two SEC victories of the season.
The skill set and leadership Dixon brought to the Tigers led her to become one of five athletes from Missouri to travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the 2021 U.S. Women’s National Team Open Program alongside graduate Brynn Carlson, freshman Kayla Burbage, freshman Kaylee Cox and incoming freshman Riley Buckley.
Athletes from 94 colleges nationwide were evaluated between four sessions of tryouts. With over 200 athletes attending tryouts, Dixon was one of 38 players selected to train with the National Collegiate team and one of 10 outside hitters.
Missouri head coach Joshua Taylor believes Dixon will benefit greatly from training at such a high level. While he says she has improved her skills during the team’s offseason training, Taylor thinks Dixon training with the National Collegiate Team will only further her knowledge.
“I think a big piece is that every single day, you’re competing with and against the best players of your age across the country,” Taylor said. “It just requires you to be on your game all the time mentally and physically. Not only is [Dixon] going to become a better player, I think she’s going to learn more about the game by competing at that level every single day and training at that level every single day.”
In addition to furthering her personal skill set, Taylor believes Dixon training on a national level will only help the Tigers this fall. With the leadership skills she has already established, Taylor thinks the Tigers will openly learn from Dixon and adapt the way they play based on what she learns and teaches her teammates this summer.
“I think a lot of people look up to Anna just because she’s a great player and a great teammate, too,” Taylor said. “I think it’s going to be pretty apparent that she trained at a high level for a decent amount of time this summer when she gets back with our group, so I’m excited about that for her.”
Dixon will train June 19-25 at the National Team Training Center in Anaheim, California, where she and the other athletes will have the opportunity to watch the Women’s National Team train, meet with Tokyo 2020 Olympians, study USA plays and be observed by the Women’s National Team staff.
After showing much improvement from her sophomore to junior year with the Tigers, Dixon is on track to make even more progress and hit many more milestones during her senior season. She will carry the skills she learns this summer throughout her volleyball career.
“I have no doubt that [Dixon] is going to see a lot of success this summer when she goes and trains,” Taylor said. “It’s going to bring a tremendous amount of value to the group this fall when she gets back on campus.”
Joshua Taylor, Missouri head coach
Seeking a better record after finishing the 2021 season 5-26, Missouri will need to make some changes before the fall, and Dixon could be the answer. Between the improvements she has already made this spring and the potential to learn even more this summer, the Tigers are on track for a much better season.
Edited by Brandon Haynes | bhaynes@themaneater.com
