SILVER CITY, N.M. – The No. 16 Colorado School of Mines volleyball teams began its RMAC title defense on Thursday and, led by a pair of players in double figures for kills, came out of the matchup with a 3-1 victory over home standing Western New Mexico at Drag's Court in Silver City, N.M. 

Scores for the match were 25-19, 25-15, 20-25 and 25-12. 

Mines (8-1, 1-0 RMAC) was led by sophomores Megan Peterson and Alanna Winfield who combined for 25 of the squad's 48 kills in the matchup. Peterson, the reigning RMAC Offensive Player of the Week, led the team with 13 kills and four total blocks on a team-best .290 attack percentage. 

Winfield, a Preseason All-RMAC selection, added 12 kills and three blocks on a team-high 34 attacks. 

Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood notched her seventh double-double in nine contests to start her junior campaign with 36 assists and 11 digs on Thursday. The two-time defending RMAC Setter of the Week now has 40 double-doubles over two-plus seasons in Golden and sits just 81 assists shy of tying Amanda Massey (2008-11) for first on the program's all-time assist charts. 

The trio of Sarah Pekarek, Abby Reuland and Samantha Fischer notched seven kills apiece as well, with Pekarek notching 11 digs and Fischer leading the squad with five total blocks on the defensive end. 

Sophomore Taryn Huber, the reigning RMAC Defensive Player of the Week, added 18 digs to lead the squad's back line. Senior Cassie Vick added nine and Corrine Din notched eight digs as well. 

Mines will continue its three-match, three-day road swing to start the conference season tomorrow when the squad heads to Las Vegas, N.M., for a matchup with New Mexico Highlands.