DURANGO, Colo. – #22 Colorado School of Mines completed the weekend road sweep with a 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-20) shutout at Fort Lewis on Saturday, November 5 at Whalen Gymnasium.'

Mines (20-5, 14-2) junior middleblocker Ellie Monarch was the catalyst behind tonight's sweep as she posted a game-high 17 kills on .452 hitting. The victory also gives the Mines volleyball program its fifth consecutive season with 20 wins or more.

The opening frame saw the Orediggers break out of a 12-10 deficit and quickly turn it into a 21-13 lead on the power of four kills from Ellie Monarch. While Fort Lewis fought back to get the set back within four (24-20), it was too much to overcome as Mines took the game, 25-20. 

What that final run for the Skyhawks did though was give them confidence in the next frame as they battled the Orediggers tooth-and-nail. 

Late in the set, Fort Lewis took a 24-22 lead on a kill from Hannah Martinez and an ace from Ally Dell'Amico, but a subsequent attack error from them gave Mines life to fight back and take the game into tiebreakers.

Once there, a kill from Monarch followed by a bed set from FLC's Maddie LeBlanc allowed Mines to escape with the win, 27-25.

The third and final set played much like the first one as the Orediggers broke a tie midway through frame and cruised to victory. This time, tied at 16, Mines popped off four straight points with kills by Monarch, Samantha Fischer and LaRose Currie to get the breathing room needed.

Alanna Winfield hit double digit kills with 13, and starting setter Marina Hansen had 42 assists and eight digs. Taryn Huber (18) and Hailey Babcock (11) also had double-digit digs.

Mines is back in action this upcoming Tuesday, November 8 as they host Colorado Christian in the final home game of the regular season at 7 p.m.