![#3 [3] Texas](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Folemisssports.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2Ftexas_200x200.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
![[6] Missouri](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Folemisssports.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2Fmizzou.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
![[11] LSU](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Folemisssports.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2FLSU_New.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, December 5
Omaha, Neb.
4:30 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Florida State
Historic Run Continues for Volleyball in NCAA Tournament Against Florida State
12/4/2024 | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. – Fresh off a historic selection to the NCAA Tournament, the Ole Miss volleyball program is off to the Cornhusker State, as they face seventh-seeded Florida State in the first round.
The Rebels (17-11, 7-9 SEC) enter their fifth NCAA Tournament in program history, seeking their first win in the prestigious competition, facing the No. 21 ranked Seminoles (21-9, 13-7 ACC) in the opening round on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. CT.
The hosts of the first two rounds, second-seeded Creighton, will follow the Rebels with their opening round match against South Dakota. Should the Rebels advance, they will compete again on Friday at 7 p.m. CT.
RALLY POINTS
SERIES HISTORY
LAST TIME OUT
The Rebels nearly ended the regular season with the program's biggest win in decades, earning multiple match points, but ultimately falling, 3-2 at No. 14 Texas on Saturday afternoon.
It was another historic performance from Nia Washington and Mokihana Tufono, who shined in the Rebels bid to unseat the Longhorns. Washington surged for 30 kills and 10 digs, while Mokihana Tufono finished with a career-high 59 assists, as well as 17 digs. Both performances rank in the top-five in single match tallies in the rally scoring era. The Rebels out hit the Longhorns, but could not capitalize on a 14-10 lead.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Ole Miss enters the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in program history and is seeking the first win in program history. Previously, the Rebels have competed in the 2021, 2010, 2007 and 2006 tournaments, falling in the first round at Creighton, vs. North Carolina, vs. BYU and at USC, respectively.
This event marks the second time for the Rebels in Omaha after a 3-0 loss to the Bluejays in 2021.
SEC HONORS
Nia Washington and Cammy Niesen each etched their names in the Ole Miss record books, as both took home honors from the SEC's annual awards.
Washington took home All-SEC First Team honors, becoming the 19th Rebel to earn All-SEC honors and the first since Sasha Ratliff in 2022. Her breakout campaign helped the Rebels emerge with an NCAA Tournament berth and her kills per set in the SEC play ranked fifth in the conference.
Cammy Niesen was named the SEC's Scholar Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Rebel to win the award since its inception in 2003. Niesen developed a reputation as one of the best liberos in the conference, while maintaining a 3.81 GPA and pursuing a chemical engineering degree.
CALL ON THE VETS
While the Rebels are making their first NCAA appearance since 2021, there are still holdovers from the last squad that made it, as Payton Brgoch, Sasha Ratliff and Bailee Middleton all competed in the program's last NCAA match against Creighton in Omaha.
Ratliff played in all three sets, recording seven killls and a block, while Brgoch played in two sets, tallying three kills and a block. Middleton also appeared in one set against the Bluejays.
The most experienced NCAA competitor on the roster is Emma Ammerman, who has competed in four NCAA matches during her time at Pepperdine. Ammerman is a career .226 hitter with 18 kills, four blocks, two assists and two digs, recording 20.5 points for the Waves.
RISING STAR
Nia Washington enters the tournament in a breakout junior season that has culminated in her earning All-SEC First Team honors for the first time in her career.
Washington has become a lethal hitter in SEC play, averaging 4.42 kills per set, compared to her 3.88 kills per set average this season. The New Orleans native has seven, 20-kill matches in her last 13 contests, headlined by a 32-kill explosion on November 17 against Mississippi State and culminating in a 30-kill performance in a near upset of No. 14 Texas in Austin.
Her play has also gained her recognition nationally, when she named to NCAA Volleyball's "Rotation of the Week" earlier in the season. The Rebels are 10-5 in matches where she hits over .200.
SERVE IT UP
Under head coach Bre Henry, the Rebels are priding themselves on their desire to be a strong service team, with early results showing tremendous improvement.
Shayla Meyer leads the team with a career-high 33 aces so far in 2024, which ranks tied for fourth in a single season at Ole Miss in the rally scoring era. In addition, Nia Washington reached the 20-ace threshold on Oct. 30, Emma Ammerman reached the mark on Nov. 8 and Mokihana Tufono reached it on Nov. 30. Three other players have at least 10 or more service aces this season.
The Rebels tie much of their success to the service game and are 16-3 when they record more aces than their opponent so far this season. On the flip side, in all but four matches they have lost, the Rebels have tallied more than 10 service errors. Additionally, they have lost five of the seven matches with their highest service error totals.
Those metrics were confirmed further on Oct. 30, when the Rebels held Auburn to zero service aces, which was the first time they have held an SEC opponent to zero aces since November 27, 2021 against Alabama.
FAMILY AFFAIR
Blocking runs in the Ratliff family. In four years, Ole Miss middle blocker Sasha Ratliff has established herself as one of the top blockers in program history, ranking first all-time in the rally scoring era with 498 total blocks, first in block assists with 396 and tied for first in solo blocks with 102. A dominant force at the net, Ratliff became just the second Rebel in program history to record four, 100-block seasons on November 24, joining Julie Link (1983-86). Her knack for blocking comes from her father, Theo, who was a shot blocker too. One of basketball's best, he ranks 20th in NBA history with nearly 2,000 blocks in his 16-year career.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Several Rebels are poised to etch their names in the all-time record books in 2024 across multiple different metrics.
Sasha Ratliff and Payton Brgoch will officially end their careers at No. 1 and No. 2 on the all-time blocks list (rally scoring era). Ratliff (498) has taken the No. 1 spot, while Brgoch sits at No. 2 (458).
Additionally, Ratliff and Brgoch also rank second and fourth respectively on the combined blocks list. Ratliff sits just behind Genevieve Shy (1993-96 - 502 blocks) who competed during the sideout scoring era.
Junior libero Cammy Niesen continues to rewrite the record books on the defensive side, breaking the single-match program record for digs with 39 against Arkansas and by rising up the top-10 all-time in the rally scoring era. Niesen stands at 1,369 career digs, which ranks fourth all-time in program history. Niesen needs nine digs to pass Tara Langley and move into third place.
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Volleyball on X at @OleMissVB, on Instagram at @olemissvb and on Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball. See exclusive photo and video content from behind the scenes and connect in real time with everything Ole Miss.
The Rebels (17-11, 7-9 SEC) enter their fifth NCAA Tournament in program history, seeking their first win in the prestigious competition, facing the No. 21 ranked Seminoles (21-9, 13-7 ACC) in the opening round on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. CT.
The hosts of the first two rounds, second-seeded Creighton, will follow the Rebels with their opening round match against South Dakota. Should the Rebels advance, they will compete again on Friday at 7 p.m. CT.
RALLY POINTS
- The Rebels enter their fifth ever NCAA Tournament, returning to the event for the first time since 2021 and seeking the program's first ever win.
- The Rebels make their second NCAA appearance in Omaha, after facing Creighton in the 2021 tournament.
- Junior outside hitter Nia Washington took home All-SEC First Team honors on Saturday, becoming the first Rebel since Sasha Ratliff in 2022 to earn an honor. Cammy Niesen was also named the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year.
- Sasha Ratliff is seeking to add the final crown jewel to her historic career, standing just five blocks away from being the program's all-era leader in total blocks. She is already the rally scoring leader.
- Niesen now stands at 1,369 career digs, with the total ranking fourth all-time at Ole Miss and just nine away from sole possession of third.
- The service game has become critical for the Rebels to have success this season, as the team is 16-3 overall when they tally more service aces than their opponent.
SERIES HISTORY
- The two sides will meet in the postseason for the first time and for the first time since 1986, with the Rebels trailing 3-7 to the Seminoles.
- The Seminoles have taken the last four meetings in the all-time series. The Rebels are facing a current member of the ACC for the first time since 2022, when the Rebels dropped 3-1 decision to Wake Forest.
LAST TIME OUT
The Rebels nearly ended the regular season with the program's biggest win in decades, earning multiple match points, but ultimately falling, 3-2 at No. 14 Texas on Saturday afternoon.
It was another historic performance from Nia Washington and Mokihana Tufono, who shined in the Rebels bid to unseat the Longhorns. Washington surged for 30 kills and 10 digs, while Mokihana Tufono finished with a career-high 59 assists, as well as 17 digs. Both performances rank in the top-five in single match tallies in the rally scoring era. The Rebels out hit the Longhorns, but could not capitalize on a 14-10 lead.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Ole Miss enters the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in program history and is seeking the first win in program history. Previously, the Rebels have competed in the 2021, 2010, 2007 and 2006 tournaments, falling in the first round at Creighton, vs. North Carolina, vs. BYU and at USC, respectively.
This event marks the second time for the Rebels in Omaha after a 3-0 loss to the Bluejays in 2021.
SEC HONORS
Nia Washington and Cammy Niesen each etched their names in the Ole Miss record books, as both took home honors from the SEC's annual awards.
Washington took home All-SEC First Team honors, becoming the 19th Rebel to earn All-SEC honors and the first since Sasha Ratliff in 2022. Her breakout campaign helped the Rebels emerge with an NCAA Tournament berth and her kills per set in the SEC play ranked fifth in the conference.
Cammy Niesen was named the SEC's Scholar Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Rebel to win the award since its inception in 2003. Niesen developed a reputation as one of the best liberos in the conference, while maintaining a 3.81 GPA and pursuing a chemical engineering degree.
CALL ON THE VETS
While the Rebels are making their first NCAA appearance since 2021, there are still holdovers from the last squad that made it, as Payton Brgoch, Sasha Ratliff and Bailee Middleton all competed in the program's last NCAA match against Creighton in Omaha.
Ratliff played in all three sets, recording seven killls and a block, while Brgoch played in two sets, tallying three kills and a block. Middleton also appeared in one set against the Bluejays.
The most experienced NCAA competitor on the roster is Emma Ammerman, who has competed in four NCAA matches during her time at Pepperdine. Ammerman is a career .226 hitter with 18 kills, four blocks, two assists and two digs, recording 20.5 points for the Waves.
RISING STAR
Nia Washington enters the tournament in a breakout junior season that has culminated in her earning All-SEC First Team honors for the first time in her career.
Washington has become a lethal hitter in SEC play, averaging 4.42 kills per set, compared to her 3.88 kills per set average this season. The New Orleans native has seven, 20-kill matches in her last 13 contests, headlined by a 32-kill explosion on November 17 against Mississippi State and culminating in a 30-kill performance in a near upset of No. 14 Texas in Austin.
Her play has also gained her recognition nationally, when she named to NCAA Volleyball's "Rotation of the Week" earlier in the season. The Rebels are 10-5 in matches where she hits over .200.
SERVE IT UP
Under head coach Bre Henry, the Rebels are priding themselves on their desire to be a strong service team, with early results showing tremendous improvement.
Shayla Meyer leads the team with a career-high 33 aces so far in 2024, which ranks tied for fourth in a single season at Ole Miss in the rally scoring era. In addition, Nia Washington reached the 20-ace threshold on Oct. 30, Emma Ammerman reached the mark on Nov. 8 and Mokihana Tufono reached it on Nov. 30. Three other players have at least 10 or more service aces this season.
The Rebels tie much of their success to the service game and are 16-3 when they record more aces than their opponent so far this season. On the flip side, in all but four matches they have lost, the Rebels have tallied more than 10 service errors. Additionally, they have lost five of the seven matches with their highest service error totals.
Those metrics were confirmed further on Oct. 30, when the Rebels held Auburn to zero service aces, which was the first time they have held an SEC opponent to zero aces since November 27, 2021 against Alabama.
FAMILY AFFAIR
Blocking runs in the Ratliff family. In four years, Ole Miss middle blocker Sasha Ratliff has established herself as one of the top blockers in program history, ranking first all-time in the rally scoring era with 498 total blocks, first in block assists with 396 and tied for first in solo blocks with 102. A dominant force at the net, Ratliff became just the second Rebel in program history to record four, 100-block seasons on November 24, joining Julie Link (1983-86). Her knack for blocking comes from her father, Theo, who was a shot blocker too. One of basketball's best, he ranks 20th in NBA history with nearly 2,000 blocks in his 16-year career.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Several Rebels are poised to etch their names in the all-time record books in 2024 across multiple different metrics.
Sasha Ratliff and Payton Brgoch will officially end their careers at No. 1 and No. 2 on the all-time blocks list (rally scoring era). Ratliff (498) has taken the No. 1 spot, while Brgoch sits at No. 2 (458).
Additionally, Ratliff and Brgoch also rank second and fourth respectively on the combined blocks list. Ratliff sits just behind Genevieve Shy (1993-96 - 502 blocks) who competed during the sideout scoring era.
Junior libero Cammy Niesen continues to rewrite the record books on the defensive side, breaking the single-match program record for digs with 39 against Arkansas and by rising up the top-10 all-time in the rally scoring era. Niesen stands at 1,369 career digs, which ranks fourth all-time in program history. Niesen needs nine digs to pass Tara Langley and move into third place.
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Volleyball on X at @OleMissVB, on Instagram at @olemissvb and on Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball. See exclusive photo and video content from behind the scenes and connect in real time with everything Ole Miss.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballPRESSER | Ole Miss Volleyball - SECT Postgame vs Texas (11-23-25)
Monday, November 24
HIGHLIGHTS: VB vs. No. 3 Texas (SEC Tournament) (11-23-25)
Sunday, November 23
PRESSER | Ole Miss Volleyball - SECT Postgame vs Mizzou (11-22-25)
Sunday, November 23
Gabi Placide's Block vs. Missouri (SEC Tournament)
Saturday, November 22