Cammy Niesen Excels as Engineer-Athlete

Engineering majors have perhaps the most demanding academic workloads—complex topics that most of us can’t even pronounce, single problems that take hours to work out. Student-athletes have perhaps the most demanding non-academic workloads in addition to their studies—early-morning workouts, daily practices, traveling for competitions.

Cammy Niesen has both.

For four years, Niesen has juggled life as a chemical engineering major and life as a student-athlete on the Ole Miss volleyball team. Niesen came to campus as a general engineering major before hearing Professor of Practice Mike Gill speak during an introductory class, which led her to choose a challenging path.

“Chemical Engineering is consistently ranked as one of the toughest major courses of study on any college campus,” Gill said. “The time demands required to perform consistently well are incredible. Most nights during a semester, you'll find the ChemE study space full of students who will be there well into the evening. Being a D1 athlete requires those same heavy time demands.”

Niesen isn’t just surviving amid those demands—she’s thriving.

The senior out of Cincinnati has been a four-year starter, and she just wrapped up one of the most decorated careers in Ole Miss volleyball history and will go down as perhaps the best to wear the red and blue at her libero position.

In October, Niesen broke the program record for digs—a defensive stat when a player prevents the opposing team’s spike from hitting the floor. Keith Carter, vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics, dropped in on the team’s practice to honor Niesen after her record-breaking performance.

“It was it was awesome,” Niesen said. “It was a really cool experience to have all the support after the fact. My parents were there and they were able to see the game and actually see me break the record, that was awesome to have them there. It also just means it means a lot to me. As someone who's been in this program since freshman year, to be able to make a mark like that and have my name in the record books and having that kind of impact on this program is something that means a lot to me.”

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About a month later, she moved into the top-10 in Southeastern Conference history and concluded her career at No. 9 all-time with 1,853 digs.

Her success hasn’t just come on the court, though.

Last year, Niesen became the first player in program history to be named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, holding a 3.81 GPA. This year, she was named to the CSC Academic All-District team and will be eligible for Academic All-America voting.

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It’s often said that, in college, you can only choose two between good grades, a social life and sleep. When you add being an elite SEC athlete into the mix, the math is even more difficult. You can’t pull all-nighters and average 16 digs a match.

“I do prioritize my sleep,” Niesen said. “If I'm not done with homework at a certain time, I will cut myself off because if I am tired for practice the next day, then I can't perform at practice, then that would just make things worse for me. So, I do make sure I get good sleep.”

So, how does she do it? A great support system.

“I really could not do both if it weren't for our coaches,” Niesen said. “Our strength coach Christina (Lodato Garton) being here at 6:45 so that I can get my lift in is so selfless of her, and the coaches as well, working with my schedule. (Head coach Bre Henry), one of her biggest priorities is that we are student-athletes. I really couldn’t do without them and my professors who let me take an exam early or just are able to work with my schedule.”

With support on both sides of the aisle, Niesen has excelled both on the court and in the classroom. Meanwhile, Gill has remained one of her favorite professors on campus, as well as one of her biggest fans.

“To do both is akin to having two full-time jobs,” Gill said. “For anyone to do both at the level at which Cammy has performed for nearly four years now is simply amazing to me. There just aren't many people in the country who could do what she has done.”

After graduation, Niesen will pursue a professional volleyball career, either in the United States or overseas. She’s also considering getting her master’s degree while playing.

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