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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Sunday, October 12
Oxford, Miss.
2 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Tennessee
Volleyball Returns Home to Host No. 17 Tennessee
10/11/2025 | Volleyball
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss volleyball program returns back home to welcome another ranked opponent to town, hosting No. 17 Tennessee.
The Rebels (9-6, 1-4 SEC) will clash with the Lady Volunteers (12-2, 3-1 SEC) on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
The match will serve as the program's mental health awareness match, while the program honors Cammy Niesen becoming the all-time leader in digs at Ole Miss.
RALLY POINTS
While the Rebels tallied a historic defensive performance, they were unable to overcome Mississippi State, falling 3-1 on Friday night in Starkville. Gabi Placide paced the offense with 26 kills, but the defense shined, tallying 92 digs for the most by the program since Sept. 15, 2023 against Tulsa. Cammy Niesen tallied 24 digs, while Mokihana Tufono recorded a career-high 22 digs to go alongside 47 assists. Keirstyn Carlton also impacted both sides with a career-high 12 kills on .400 hitting and four blocks.
CAN YOU DIG IT?
Senior libero Cammy Niesen made history on Sunday, smashing the program's all-eras dig record that stood for 14 years (by Morgan Springer). The 2024 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year has been a model of consistency her entire career and is now poised to add to her all-time lead as SEC play continues.
Niesen has quietly emerged as one of the best liberos in the SEC over her dynamic career as she closes in on the all-time SEC top-10. Niesen is 98 away from entering the top-10 in conference history.
Last season, Niesen led the SEC in total digs with 537, which also ranked 33rd in the nation. This season, Niesen continues to impact the game, ranking second in the SEC in digs per set (4.30).
In fact, Niesen ranks sixth in the NCAA on the active digs leaderboard with 1,657.
Active Leaders
1. Emma Hickey, Valparaiso - 2,442
2. Maya Sands, Missouri - 1,768
3. Lauren Lindseth, Montana State - 1,748
4. Emma Farrell, Wake Forest - 1,677
5. Campbell Jensen, UC Irvine - 1,670
6. Cammy Niesen, Ole Miss - 1,657
7. LonDynn Betts, West Virginia - 1,642
8. Ella Voegele, St. Thomas - 1,589
9. Breanna Mitchell, Boise State - 1,574
10. Kamryn Farris, South Dakota - 1,542
AT EASE WITH PLACIDE
Gabi Placide has become the SEC's breakout star since arriving in Oxford this season and will be a critical part of the Rebels lineup as SEC play begins.
Placide has surged to the forefront of the national rankings, ranking second in the SEC with 321.0 points and 281 kills, ranking 16th and 20th nationally, respectively. The Centennial, Colo., native also ranks 19th nationally in points per set and 21st nationally in kills per set.
Her efforts earned her a mid-season addition to the AVCA's Player of the Year Watch List. Placide also recently took home SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors following back-to-back career-highs in wins over Texas Tech and UAlbany and hit over .300 for the weekend. Placide also showed off her athleticism with 22 digs and 11.0 blocks to go alongside 71 kills.
FILLING THE VOID
While the Rebels have had to replace much of their offensive attack from 2024, several newcomers have immediately stepped up. They are led by transfer Gabi Placide, who surged to 281 kills and a .220 hitting percentage through her first 16 matches and already leads the SEC and ranks 20th nationally in total kills. Redshirt freshman Melia Johnson has also shined, opening her college career with 10 or more kills in four of her first nine matches.
HONORED BY THE SEC
Setter Mokihana Tufono, who turned heads in her debut season in Oxford, was named to the All-SEC Preseason Team earlier this offseason. Tufono, who started her collegiate career at UCLA, developed into one of the top setters in the conference under head coach Bre Henry, earning AVCA All-South Region honors and recording 1,173 assists in 2024. Tufono also notched 286 digs, 60.0 total blocks, 43 kills and 21 service aces.
This season, Tufono continues to excel, ranking 18th in the nation in assists per set at 10.36 and has tallied two 50-assist matches. Her recent play earned a spot in the NCAA's 'Rotation of the Week' a few weeks ago.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
Throughout the entirety of the 2025 season, Ole Miss athletics and the volleyball program will honor and recognize many who have contributed to the success and legacy of the program over 50 years of volleyball.
The program has tallied over 800 wins, reached five NCAA Tournaments and won the 2017 NIVC championship. Nineteen student-athletes have earned All-SEC honors, 16 have earned AVCA All-Region and three have been named All-Americans as the program has blossomed over generations of standout student-athletes.
The success of the program has built on the foundation of countless student-athletes who have gone on to earn a degree from the University of Mississippi and take their talents throughout the world.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Several Rebels are poised to etch their names in the all-time record books in 2025 across multiple different metrics.
In addition to clinching the all-eras digs record at Ole Miss, Cammy Niesen is also poised to enter the top-10 all-time in service aces, with 66 in her career. That stands just three outside the rally scoring era's top-10. Shayla Meyer also has her sights on the same list, standing at 65 service aces and is just four away from the top-10 across two and a half seasons of action.
Mokihana Tufono continues her rapid ascent of the assists charts in her short time at Ole Miss. Tufono currently sits fifth all-time in the rally scoring era with 1,805 and 10th across all eras, despite only playing just 44 matches as a Rebel.
Fans can continue to show support for the Rebels by joining the ACE Club. Funds from the ACE Club are a major component in helping the Ole Miss volleyball program compete at the highest level. For more information and to donate, click here.
Ole Miss volleyball is hosting Grove Grocery can drives this season at all home matches. Bring a canned good with you to the Marketing Table and receive 100 bonus Rebel Rewards points as a thank you for giving back to the Oxford community.
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 (9-6, 1-4 SEC) will clash with the Lady Volunteers (12-2, 3-1 SEC) on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
The match will serve as the program's mental health awareness match, while the program honors Cammy Niesen becoming the all-time leader in digs at Ole Miss.
RALLY POINTS
- The Rebels welcome the second ranked opponent to the Gillom Center this season, hosting No. 17 Tennessee.
- The Rebels won the last meeting in 2024, snapping a five-match skid.
- Junior Gabi Placide has made an immediate impact since coming to Oxford, ranking second in the SEC in kills (281) and points (321.0). Placide was added to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List for her efforts.
- Cammy Niesen broke the Rebels all-time digs record on Sunday, breaking a 14-year-old mark held by Morgan Springer. Niesen's attention now turns to the SEC all-time top-10, where she needs 98 to break in.
- Ole Miss is 6-2 when freshman Carly Paugh gets five or more kills and 3-5 when she does not.
- Freshman Keirstyn Carlton has gotten off to a hot start in SEC play, ranking fifth in the SEC in conference play hitting percentage .397. She is the only freshman in the top-five.
- Ole Miss snapped a five-match losing streak to Tennessee in last year's matchup. Tennessee still leads the all-time series 52-12.
- Ole Miss' mainstay of returners each had solid matches against the Lady Vols last season. Mokihana Tufono set a then-career high in assists with 54, Cammy Niesen paced both teams in digs with 17, and Shayla Meyer earned a double-double.
- Ole Miss has had some of its most memorable performances against Tennessee in the rally scoring era. In 2007, the Rebels downed 86 kills, a mark which has yet to be re-met in the current era of scoring by Ole Miss. In the same match, the Rebels accounted for 108 digs, which is a rally scoring to 30 era record.
While the Rebels tallied a historic defensive performance, they were unable to overcome Mississippi State, falling 3-1 on Friday night in Starkville. Gabi Placide paced the offense with 26 kills, but the defense shined, tallying 92 digs for the most by the program since Sept. 15, 2023 against Tulsa. Cammy Niesen tallied 24 digs, while Mokihana Tufono recorded a career-high 22 digs to go alongside 47 assists. Keirstyn Carlton also impacted both sides with a career-high 12 kills on .400 hitting and four blocks.
CAN YOU DIG IT?
Senior libero Cammy Niesen made history on Sunday, smashing the program's all-eras dig record that stood for 14 years (by Morgan Springer). The 2024 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year has been a model of consistency her entire career and is now poised to add to her all-time lead as SEC play continues.
Niesen has quietly emerged as one of the best liberos in the SEC over her dynamic career as she closes in on the all-time SEC top-10. Niesen is 98 away from entering the top-10 in conference history.
Last season, Niesen led the SEC in total digs with 537, which also ranked 33rd in the nation. This season, Niesen continues to impact the game, ranking second in the SEC in digs per set (4.30).
In fact, Niesen ranks sixth in the NCAA on the active digs leaderboard with 1,657.
Active Leaders
1. Emma Hickey, Valparaiso - 2,442
2. Maya Sands, Missouri - 1,768
3. Lauren Lindseth, Montana State - 1,748
4. Emma Farrell, Wake Forest - 1,677
5. Campbell Jensen, UC Irvine - 1,670
6. Cammy Niesen, Ole Miss - 1,657
7. LonDynn Betts, West Virginia - 1,642
8. Ella Voegele, St. Thomas - 1,589
9. Breanna Mitchell, Boise State - 1,574
10. Kamryn Farris, South Dakota - 1,542
AT EASE WITH PLACIDE
Gabi Placide has become the SEC's breakout star since arriving in Oxford this season and will be a critical part of the Rebels lineup as SEC play begins.
Placide has surged to the forefront of the national rankings, ranking second in the SEC with 321.0 points and 281 kills, ranking 16th and 20th nationally, respectively. The Centennial, Colo., native also ranks 19th nationally in points per set and 21st nationally in kills per set.
Her efforts earned her a mid-season addition to the AVCA's Player of the Year Watch List. Placide also recently took home SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors following back-to-back career-highs in wins over Texas Tech and UAlbany and hit over .300 for the weekend. Placide also showed off her athleticism with 22 digs and 11.0 blocks to go alongside 71 kills.
FILLING THE VOID
While the Rebels have had to replace much of their offensive attack from 2024, several newcomers have immediately stepped up. They are led by transfer Gabi Placide, who surged to 281 kills and a .220 hitting percentage through her first 16 matches and already leads the SEC and ranks 20th nationally in total kills. Redshirt freshman Melia Johnson has also shined, opening her college career with 10 or more kills in four of her first nine matches.
HONORED BY THE SEC
Setter Mokihana Tufono, who turned heads in her debut season in Oxford, was named to the All-SEC Preseason Team earlier this offseason. Tufono, who started her collegiate career at UCLA, developed into one of the top setters in the conference under head coach Bre Henry, earning AVCA All-South Region honors and recording 1,173 assists in 2024. Tufono also notched 286 digs, 60.0 total blocks, 43 kills and 21 service aces.
This season, Tufono continues to excel, ranking 18th in the nation in assists per set at 10.36 and has tallied two 50-assist matches. Her recent play earned a spot in the NCAA's 'Rotation of the Week' a few weeks ago.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
Throughout the entirety of the 2025 season, Ole Miss athletics and the volleyball program will honor and recognize many who have contributed to the success and legacy of the program over 50 years of volleyball.
The program has tallied over 800 wins, reached five NCAA Tournaments and won the 2017 NIVC championship. Nineteen student-athletes have earned All-SEC honors, 16 have earned AVCA All-Region and three have been named All-Americans as the program has blossomed over generations of standout student-athletes.
The success of the program has built on the foundation of countless student-athletes who have gone on to earn a degree from the University of Mississippi and take their talents throughout the world.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Several Rebels are poised to etch their names in the all-time record books in 2025 across multiple different metrics.
In addition to clinching the all-eras digs record at Ole Miss, Cammy Niesen is also poised to enter the top-10 all-time in service aces, with 66 in her career. That stands just three outside the rally scoring era's top-10. Shayla Meyer also has her sights on the same list, standing at 65 service aces and is just four away from the top-10 across two and a half seasons of action.
Mokihana Tufono continues her rapid ascent of the assists charts in her short time at Ole Miss. Tufono currently sits fifth all-time in the rally scoring era with 1,805 and 10th across all eras, despite only playing just 44 matches as a Rebel.
Fans can continue to show support for the Rebels by joining the ACE Club. Funds from the ACE Club are a major component in helping the Ole Miss volleyball program compete at the highest level. For more information and to donate, click here.
Ole Miss volleyball is hosting Grove Grocery can drives this season at all home matches. Bring a canned good with you to the Marketing Table and receive 100 bonus Rebel Rewards points as a thank you for giving back to the Oxford community.
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
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/ VolleyballHIGHLIGHTS: Volleyball vs. Tennessee (10/12/25)
Sunday, October 12
HIGHLIGHTS: VB at Mississippi State
Friday, October 10
Cammy Niesen Kill
Friday, October 10
Mokihana Tufono 2,000th Assist
Friday, October 10