The University of Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball Position Preview: Setters
8/21/2025 | Volleyball
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss volleyball is two days out from its first exhibition of the season, and OleMissSports.com will preview the team’s final position group, the setters.
Head coach Bre Henry, in her third full season at the helm, returns two setters from last season’s squad, including one of the biggest success stories of last year in Mokihana Tufono. Alongside Tufono, Carson Eickenloff comes back for her redshirt freshman season, with both joined by Cal State Bakersfield transfer Vivianna Samaniego.
After arriving at Ole Miss via UCLA, Tufono thrived in Henry’s system and put up career best numbers in every statistical category. She will look to build off her stellar junior campaign this season, after being named to the 2025 Preseason All-SEC team.
Right where she belongs ??
— Ole Miss Volleyball (@OleMissVB) July 8, 2025
Mokihana Tufono has been named to All-@SEC Preseason team!
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Tufono led the team last season with 15 double doubles, while averaging over 10 assists per set. Her 1,173 assists for the season was good for the fourth most in the modern era of rally scoring in Ole Miss history, helping her earn a spot on the AVCA All-South Region Team. She also garnered conference accolades last season, after being named the SEC Setter of the Week in October after back-to-back 50 assist performances against SEC opponents.
Moki money moves ?? pic.twitter.com/9EXaGU4E5B
— Ole Miss Volleyball (@OleMissVB) December 16, 2024
Eickenloff brings youthful energy to the group, following a successful high school career at McKinney Boyd High School in Dallas, Texas, where she became a three-time high school All-American. A strong club performer, Eickenloff helped two clubs become USA Volleyball Open National Champions, Madfrog Volleyball in 2022 and Texas Advantage VBC in 2024. Across her high school career, she recorded over 1,000 assists, 1,000 digs and 900 kills.
Samaniego hails from Surprise, Arizona, and joins the Rebels after a strong collegiate debut season with CSU Bakersfield. She played in all 30 matches for the Roadrunners, tallying 433 assists, good for second-best on the team. She was also top five on the team in service aces and digs, with 36 and 144, respectively. Prior to her stint with the Roadrunners, Samaniego was named the 3A Player of the Year in 2023 as a junior with Northwest Christian High School.
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— Ole Miss Volleyball (@OleMissVB) April 14, 2025
We can't wait to have you in Oxford, Vivianna!
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The Rebels will hit the court on Saturday, Aug. 23, for an exhibition matchup against Southern Miss at 2 p.m. CT at the Gillom Center prior to its official season opening weekend at the Georgia Tech Classic in Atlanta, Georgia.
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