The University of Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Year at Ole Miss:
- Second
- E-mail:
- torimell@olemiss.edu
- Phone:
- 662-915-7541
- Alma Mater:
- Texas A&M (2013)
Texas native Tori Plugge joined the Ole Miss volleyball staff as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator in January of 2017.
In 2019, Plugge’s tutelage of first-year senior libero Nicole Purcell led to a single-season digs record of 555, where she led the SEC in both total digs and digs per set. The Rebels tallied a 14-match winning streak, tying for the longest in program history, including a 6-0 start in SEC play and their first ranked win since 2010, as the Rebs upset No. 22 Missouri 3-1. Plugge worked with defensive specialists and passers, where the Rebels led the league in total digs and digs per set.
During her second year with the Rebels, she helped lead Ole Miss to 11 straight wins early in pre-conference action, including sweeping the entire Georgia State Invitational Tournament in September in Atlanta. Plugge worked primarily with defensive specialists, guiding libero Caroline Adams to surpass the 1,000 career dig mark and finish her career ranked second in the program in all-time digs.
In her first season at Ole Miss, the Rebels captured the NIVC Championship, equaled the most wins (22) in the rally era and set numerous team and individual records. Directing the recruiting efforts, Plugge helped the Rebels sign an Under Armour All-American as well as a Prep Volleyball Senior Ace.
Prior to coming to Ole Miss, Plugge spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Arkansas State where she coached the outside hitters and handled the day-to-day operations of the office and travel as well as assisted in recruiting and scouting.
During her first year in 2015, Plugge helped the team to a 28-2 record, a perfect 16-0 mark in Sunbelt Conference play, a conference tournament championship and its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1999. This past season, Arkansas State finished 25-8, 15-1 in SBC play, and advanced to the conference tournament championship match for the second year in a row.
In 2015, A-State's outside hitters combined for 1,029 of the team's 1,483 kills and also hit at a .259 clip. Additionally, Plugge helped then-freshman Carlisa May earn Honorable Mention All-American honors from the AVCA and a bundle of other awards including SBC Freshman of the Year, First-Team All-SBC, AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year, and Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP in 2015. That same year, Mellinger also coached Darby Graff to Second-Team All-SBC honors and AVCA Southwest All-Region Honorable Mention accolades. Graff led the league with a .355 hitting percentage.
Prior to going to Arkansas State, Plugge spent the 2014 season as a volunteer assistant at her alma mater, Texas A&M. Working on Laurie Corbelli’s staff, Plugge helped Texas A&M to an overall record of 21-9 and 13-5 in the SEC along with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
As a player at A&M (2009-12), Plugge finished her career with 1,480 digs, the second most in school history and most in the rally-scoring era. Her senior year, Plugge helped lead the team to a 25-6 record, including a 16-4 mark in SEC play and an appearance in the NCAA second round.
After spending her first two years at libero, Plugge moved to outside hitter before her junior season (2011) and helped the team to a 23-8 record and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
In 2009 as a freshman, Plugge started at libero in all but the first four matches and made an immediate impact in A&M’s back row defense. She helped lead the Aggies to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
Plugge graduated from Texas A&M in May 2013 with a degree in Sports Management with a minor in communications and coaching.
After graduation, Plugge played a professional season for SCU Emlichheim in Emlichheim, Germany before starting her coaching career.
Plugge resides in Oxford with her husband, Andrew.
