The University of Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, September 6
Brookings, S.D.
1 PM
Ole Miss
3-2,0-0SEC
3
vs
1
Wyoming
2-2,0-0Mountain West
1
2
3
4
F
Wyoming
25
16
22
12
1
Ole Miss
21
25
25
25
3
Johnson, Placide Deliver Offensive Explosion for Volleyball in Win Over Wyoming
9/6/2025 | Volleyball
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Behind huge offensive days from Gabi Placide and Melia Johnson, the Ole Miss volleyball program earned a 3-1 victory over Wyoming to conclude the SDSU Invitational at First Bank & Trust Arena.
Placide surged for a team-high 21 kills on .391 hitting, while Johnson added a career-best 17 kills on a .452 hitting percentage to power the Rebels (3-2, 0-0 SEC). Mokihana Tufono exploded for a 50-assist, 11-dig double-double, while Cammy Niesen (15 digs) and Cameron Bradley (12 digs) each shined defensively. Addy Thorington led the way for the Cowgirls (2-2, 0-0 MWC) with 11 kills.
Looking for a bounce-back performance on Saturday, the Rebels and Cowgirls traded blows to open the first set. Johnson started quickly with a pair of kills as the Rebels built a 10-9 advantage. Wyoming answered with a 4-0 run, but the Rebels swung back and retook a 15-14 lead. However, it was the Cowgirls who secured the first set, with a 6-1 run, before holding the Rebels at bay and winning 25-21.
The Rebels quickly regrouped and surged to open the second set. Two kills each by Carly Paugh and Johnson helped the Rebels take an 8-2 lead. That lead continued to expand, as Johnson remained red hot, securing eight kills on her first 10 swings. With a 16-9 lead in hand, the Rebels comfortably pulled away, behind multiple kills from Keirstyn Carlton. Carlton finished with seven kills and three blocks on .500 hitting and the Rebels took a 25-16 victory.
Wyoming would not go away though, as the visitors from Laramie opened a 10-4 advantage in the third set. The deficit didn't faze the Rebels, who chipped away to get the match back to 14-12 in favor of the Cowgirls. Nevertheless, the Cowgirls reestablished an 18-13 advantage.
Things began to change when a service error by Wyoming brought Shayla Meyer up to serve. Meyer delivered a critical run of serve, notching three aces and powering the Rebels to an 8-0 run and a 21-18 lead. The Rebels would not give up the lead from there, as Placide took over with three of the final four kills to secure a 25-22 win.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Rebels put the clamps on the Cowgirls and built an 11-5 lead. Placide remained red hot, while the defense stepped up to hold Wyoming to -.067 hitting in the final set. Tessa Jones tallied three late blocks, as the Rebels steamrolled their way to a .393 hitting percentage and a 25-12 win.
The Rebels will now turn their attention to the Showdown at the Net, as the Rebels travel to Coral Cables, Fla., for a matchup with Miami on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed on ACCNX.
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.
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.
Placide surged for a team-high 21 kills on .391 hitting, while Johnson added a career-best 17 kills on a .452 hitting percentage to power the Rebels (3-2, 0-0 SEC). Mokihana Tufono exploded for a 50-assist, 11-dig double-double, while Cammy Niesen (15 digs) and Cameron Bradley (12 digs) each shined defensively. Addy Thorington led the way for the Cowgirls (2-2, 0-0 MWC) with 11 kills.
Looking for a bounce-back performance on Saturday, the Rebels and Cowgirls traded blows to open the first set. Johnson started quickly with a pair of kills as the Rebels built a 10-9 advantage. Wyoming answered with a 4-0 run, but the Rebels swung back and retook a 15-14 lead. However, it was the Cowgirls who secured the first set, with a 6-1 run, before holding the Rebels at bay and winning 25-21.
The Rebels quickly regrouped and surged to open the second set. Two kills each by Carly Paugh and Johnson helped the Rebels take an 8-2 lead. That lead continued to expand, as Johnson remained red hot, securing eight kills on her first 10 swings. With a 16-9 lead in hand, the Rebels comfortably pulled away, behind multiple kills from Keirstyn Carlton. Carlton finished with seven kills and three blocks on .500 hitting and the Rebels took a 25-16 victory.
Wyoming would not go away though, as the visitors from Laramie opened a 10-4 advantage in the third set. The deficit didn't faze the Rebels, who chipped away to get the match back to 14-12 in favor of the Cowgirls. Nevertheless, the Cowgirls reestablished an 18-13 advantage.
Things began to change when a service error by Wyoming brought Shayla Meyer up to serve. Meyer delivered a critical run of serve, notching three aces and powering the Rebels to an 8-0 run and a 21-18 lead. The Rebels would not give up the lead from there, as Placide took over with three of the final four kills to secure a 25-22 win.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Rebels put the clamps on the Cowgirls and built an 11-5 lead. Placide remained red hot, while the defense stepped up to hold Wyoming to -.067 hitting in the final set. Tessa Jones tallied three late blocks, as the Rebels steamrolled their way to a .393 hitting percentage and a 25-12 win.
The Rebels will now turn their attention to the Showdown at the Net, as the Rebels travel to Coral Cables, Fla., for a matchup with Miami on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed on ACCNX.
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.
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.
Team Stats
UW
UM
Kills
36
58
Errors
23
19
Attempts
119
122
Hitting %
.109
.320
Points
45.0
76.0
Assists
32
55
Aces
5
9
Blocks
4
9
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
21
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
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