Cameron Milligan, a dynamic outside hitter, has carved out a path in volleyball that reflects both passion and purpose. From watching his mom, sister, and cousins play to competing alongside his brother as a freshman on varsity, the game was always in his blood. It was a thrilling sectional final during his first year of high school that truly hooked him. After a standout collegiate career at Daemen University and a season in Denmark with Volleyklubben Vestsjælland, Milligan is set to take the court for Los Gigantes de Carolina in Puerto Rico. Known for embracing pressure, thriving in high-stakes moments, and leaning on his faith in Jesus Christ, Milligan approaches every match with grit, gratitude, and a drive to glorify God through his play.

How did you get started playing volleyball, and what made you fall in love with the sport?
I started playing volleyball because of my family. My mom played in college. My sister did too. My cousins did. My uncle was the high school coach. It was bound to happen. I fell in love with volleyball my freshman year of high school, though. I was playing on the varsity team as a freshman, on the same team as my brother, so that was a blast anyway. But we were really good all year, and then we had an amazing game in the sectional finals that year. That’s what hooked me.

Who has been the most influential person in your volleyball journey so far?
Donald Gleason has been the most influential person in my volleyball journey so far. The way he approached coaching me helped sharpen my love for the game, and he taught me all the different ways to develop my skills and ability.

What position do you play, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I play as an outside hitter. I think my favorite part about it is how influential I can be on my team’s success. I love the pressure. I like knowing that I’m very involved in the game, and when the game is on the line, I can make a difference.

How do you balance academics, volleyball, and personal time during the season?
Time management and self-discipline are very important to me. I try to avoid wasting time and not procrastinating.

What’s your favorite memory from your volleyball experience?
Winning the NEC my senior year at Daemen was incredible. Especially because of the crushing feeling of losing in terrible fashion the prior year. It felt great to win the championship with the guys I was grinding with for four years straight.

What’s a typical training day like for you during the season?
During the season, I will typically work out in the morning, eat a healthy lunch, watch a good amount of volleyball, go to practice, do a little bit of stretching or recovery, then go home and eat a big meal while watching a movie.

How would you describe your team’s chemistry this season?
This past season in Denmark was interesting, but I think the team chemistry was extremely high. All of the guys on the team have known each other almost their entire lives, and you could tell with how well they understood each other. Although I was only joining for a year, they welcomed me with open arms and tried to share as much of that connection with me as they could.

What’s one drill or workout you secretly enjoy (or hate to love)?
I secretly love doing a coach-on-one defense drill where the coach just throws balls around and hits balls at you. It completely exhausts you, but I love how difficult it is and then that rewarding feeling afterward.

How do you prepare mentally and physically for a game or big tournament?
On the mental side of the game, I try to prepare by watching a lot of film, both on my opponents but also on some players or teams that I want to play like for that game. Physically, I try to load manage well with my lifting for the week so I can be at 100% for the game. Then for a pregame warm-up, I try to focus on warming up my hips and my knees through isometrics and band work. Then, most importantly, I pray to God before games to remind me to glorify God with how I play.

What personal goals have you set for yourself this season?
I personally have not set many specific performance goals because I have not gotten into the gym to assess everything. But, based on how the team looks, I have the goal of winning the Puerto Rican league with Los Gigantes de Carolina.

What’s a piece of advice you’ve received from a coach that stuck with you?
If I want to be great, I have to be willing to put the work in to be great.

What motivates you to keep pushing through tough practices or losses?
My faith in Jesus Christ. What used to push me through days like that was pure fumes of competitive drive. But now that I have put my faith in Jesus Christ, He picks me up and gives me the strength to keep going.

Where do you see yourself in volleyball over the next 3–5 years?
In the next few years, I see myself bouncing around leagues in Europe, taking steps up each year, hopefully. In the later end of five years, I would see myself playing in a high-level league like Germany, France, Poland, or, in my dreams, Italy. In the summers, I hope to train and grow businesses related to volleyball.

How do you handle pressure during close matches or high-stakes points?
I lean on the confidence that Jesus Christ gives me. I am confident because of Him, and I trust in His plan because there is nothing that comes close to His reliability.

Who’s the funniest teammate on the squad, and why?
Billy Wieberg.

Favorite volleyball player or team you look up to?
Eric Loeppky

Do you have any pre-game rituals, superstitions, or pump-up songs?
Praying before games. And if I need to get pumped up a bit, I listen to Kanye West’s gospel album called Jesus Is King.

What’s your go-to post-tournament meal or snack?
Chocolate milk!!!

If you weren’t playing volleyball, what sport would you try instead?
Basketball. I played basketball my entire life. It was my first love even before volleyball.

What’s something fans or coaches might be surprised to learn about you?
I can solve a Rubik’s Cube.

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