Ole Miss’ Cammy Niesen and Vivian Miller garner SEC weekly awards

October 10, 2022October 10, 2022 Bob Bakken

Rebel freshmen shine in weekend series against Alabama

Freshmen Cammy Niesen and Vivian Miller shined for Ole Miss volleyball over the weekend as the Rebels swept the weekend series against Alabama and picked up their first two victories at home this season. Niesen and Miller’s performances didn’t go unnoticed as the freshman duo garnered SEC Weekly honors, the conference announced Monday afternoon.

For the second consecutive week, Niesen turned heads in the SEC, this time garnering Defensive Player of the Week honors. The reigning freshman of the week raised her game, averaging 5.25 digs per set as Ole Miss rolled the Crimson Tide at home. She anchored the Rebel defense that held Alabama to a mere .150 hitting percentage on the weekend.

On Friday, Niesen recorded her third consecutive match with 20-plus digs, tallying a career-best 29 in the win. Her 29 digs are tied for the most in a four-set match by any SEC student-athlete this season and the most by a Rebel since 2018. The following day, the Cincinnati, Ohio, product nearly recorded her first double-double, finishing with seven assists and 13 digs.

Niesen is one of two freshmen in the conference this season and the first Rebel freshman since Anna Bair in 2019 to claim multiple SEC weekly awards.

Miller paced the Rebels offensively against the Crimson Tide, registering career-high kills in both victories against Alabama to collect SEC Freshman of the Week honors. The freshman outside hitter averaged 4.13 kills per set on the weekend and hit at a blistering .338. She tallied 33 kills on 68 attacks with only 10 errors as Ole Miss dominated the series with Alabama.

The Jupiter, Florida, native tallied 15 kills in Friday’s win and followed it up with an 18-kill performance while hitting at a career-best .485 clip. Miller also added a career-best 17 digs on Saturday for her second collegiate double-double. Playing all six rotations on the court, Miller was heavily involved in all facets of the game, contributing four blocks and an ace on the weekend.

It is Miller’s first career SEC weekly award, and she is the second Rebel to earn conference honors this season, joining Niesen.