After a year away from the sport she loved, 19-year-old freshman Elise Tizon, outside hitter, was uncertain whether she would continue her volleyball career.

A graduate of North Torrance High School, Tizon was a two-sport athlete in volleyball and soccer. She decided to stop playing soccer and focus on volleyball. Tizon felt passionate about volleyball and wanted to continue playing at the college level.

She was offered multiple out-of-state scholarships for volleyball, but ended up turning them down.

Tizon said she had doubts about continuing her volleyball career.

Tizon decided to take a year off because she felt overwhelmed with volleyball taking up her life.

“During my time off, I had a lot of time to think and see what I really wanted. I didn’t think I was ready to go to a school out of state,” Tizon said.

Tizon felt she wasn’t into the game as much. She wanted to see if volleyball was really for her.

“I just wasn’t into it a 100 percent,” Tizon said.

She took 2011 off to really see if she wanted to continue playing the sport she loved.

Tizon enjoyed the time that she had away from volleyball.

“It was different not playing volleyball and it was nice to have time to myself,” Tizon said.

The reason Tizon took a year off is because she wanted to see if volleyball was really for her.

“It was more of a personal thing to me to figure out what I wanted to do,” Tizon said.

Towards the end of 2011, it clicked for Tizon that volleyball is something she felt passionate about and wanted to continue playing the sport.

She (Tizon) felt the urge to get back on the court.

Tizon said she started to get back in shape by partaking in excruciating workouts.

“In the beginning, I didn’t think I was going to come back, but towards the end I started taking off the weight,” Tizon said. “I just thought give me another shot.”

Those workouts consisted of hot yoga, cardio and beach runs.

“When I was in high school, I felt I could have been thinner and better at volleyball, so I lost 40 pounds and now I’m feeling great,” Tizon said.

“I work really hard for what I want. Nothing is handed to me. I always struggled with obtaining the starting spot and I would always be one step behind somebody, but I would never give up,” Tizon said.

Tizon credits her parents for supporting her through her high school days till now.

“Both of my parents are my support team, they are always their to pick me up and tell me to keep improving,” Tizon said.

At first she didn’t start for the women’s volleyball team, but she continued to work and she was determined to reach her highest achievement.

“For El Camino College, I wasn’t playing at first and I never let it discourage me. I just had to keep working hard,” Tizon said.

“I knew if I worked that I would be starting and I am now,” she added.

Tizon would work relentlessly for her starting position with the women’s volleyball team.

She knew that nothing was given to her and was determined to earn her starting position.

“It was tough for me, it wasn’t easy,” she said. “I didn’t complain, and I never stopped believing in myself.”

Even Tizon’s coach (Le Valley Pattison) took notice of her hard work and dedication.

Pattison said she enjoys coaching Tizon.

“She is working hard; she sat out a year. It took her time to adjust,” Pattison said.

“She has a great work ethic, she is at practice everyday with a smile,” Pattison added. “She wants to get better and I enjoy coaching her.”

When she first started playing volleyball at EC, she didn’t get complacent and was determined to improve her craft.

Now Tizon is gaining more confidence by working hard every day in practice.

“I think I have more confidence in myself. I can only tell by training a lot harder, but I think I have the potential to be really good,” Tizon said.

Pattison said she thinks Tizon is an adept player who can play multiple positions, and has become an important player in the team’s offense.

“She is one of our more versatile players. She can hit and play libero,” Pattison said.

So far, Tizon has enjoyed her time at EC and thinks the coaching staff has helped her out a lot.

“I love it, I think EC has some of the best coaches I have gotten throughout my years of playing,” Tizon said.

When asked if pursuing a career in professional volleyball is a possibility, Tizon said it is possibly.

Tizon said that she plans to continue her volleyball career at a university.

Tizon will also start training for beach volleyball in Manhattan Beach.

“I do play beach volleyball. I’m going to start training for that and see how far I can go,” Tizon said.

She (Tizon) recently changed her major from film to communication.

“I just felt like a communications major would open up more doors than film,” Tizon said.