Elessar's deep love for his chosen sport started in primary school, playing socially before he started to join the big competitions. But a love for the game comes at a cost, requiring financial commitment from modest household budgets. We are committed to ensure this should not be drawback for a promising athlete to continue to develop and achieve his dreams.

Support Elessar to play in the 2025 AYVC in Perth.

Elessar shares his volleyball journey:

"I started playing for a club in the west when I was in year 6. Before volleyball (vb) I was interested in martial arts so I started training for Taekwondo when I was in Year 2. But I ended up choosing vb over Taekwondo because I liked the idea of a team sport. I ended my Taekwondo training in year 7 after I achieved my First Dan in Blackbelt. I have been committed to playing vb eversince.

"A challenge for me as a Filipino background athlete in the west of Victoria was my lack of early connections and visibility, having to compete with others who already were known in the Victorian volleyball community. I trained extra hard to be noticed and selected.

"I started competing in year 7 (2023) when I was selected for the Volleyball Victoria Under 14 Boys Squad as a Shadow Athlete. Even though I was disappointed for only making it as a reserve, I was still proud to say I was a Victorian athlete in the sport I love. I kept showing up earlier than everyone else considering I lived 50 km away from the stadium. I tried proving myself to the coaches that I was as good as the travelling athletes. Eventually I had an opportunity to get promoted as a travelling athlete for the Nationals.

"I am proud and happy to be an athlete to represent Victoria for the 3rd year now and winning gold for the AYVC in 2024 with my U14 blue team. It is a huge part of my identity being a volleyball player and I am sure my parents are very proud of me.

"A big factor of my self discipline is making sure my body and mind are 100% conditioned for any training and games. I do this by daily stretching, hydrating, having adequate rest and regular visits to a remedial massage therapist/myotherapist, who is experienced in supporting young athletes. I am committed to train with GMVA J/S and to play for my clubs and school, so I can continue to develop.

"I thrive being mates with my team and I like the idea of how we all contribute to winning a game. Being kind and supportive of each other really help in team sports to help build confidence and also connection with one another.

"My top 3 priorities as an athlete are consistent training, managing nutrition and balancing sports with my everyday life as a teenager. I make sure I can balance with rest, study and fun by hanging out with my non-volleyball friends. I have good mates in volleyball, but also school friends who are into other things like music, academics and other sports – we keep each other grounded."

Support Elessar to play in the 2025 AYVC in Perth.

As a young athlete how do you balance your sport and study? "I try my best to excel not just in sports but also in my academic studies. For the years 2024 and 2025 my Catholic school Caroline Chisholm Catholic College gave me an Academic Excellence Award, which is a merit scholarship. It is not always easy to balance sports and study as I have to travel far to training and games at least 4x a week, but I can only try with my best intentions. It helps to have a supportive school and family."

What would you say to other young athletes? "To love the sport you play, to play with 100% and work hard for your goals. But to remember that being an athlete is not your only identity, and to others you are just like anybody else. You are more than your sport. I learned in Volleyball it is important to ‘Hustle hard, stay humble.’ I learned in Taekwondo to ‘Be comfortable with the uncomfortable.’ Both of these apply not just in sports but also in life."

Where do you want to take your sport in the future? "In the future I would like to play professionally, but also to gain a stable job in the field of sports. I would like to possibly contribute my talents to inspire other young people to take up sports and be active."

Thank you for supporting Elessar's sports development and volleyball journey.