How It Happened
#18 Colorado School of Mines (5-2) dropped a competitive 3-0 (22-25, 15-25, 21-25) match to #6 Central Missouri (5-2) in the Orediggers third match at the Colorado Premier Challenge at MSU Denver.
The opening set was a tight, back-and-forth affair like you would expect from two teams ranked in the AVCA Top-25. The two teams traded the lead multiple times with Mines pulling ahead by two, 19-17, when a double-block by
Alanna Winfield and
Madeline Behr had them riding high. The Jennies fought back though and eventually tied the set at 22 before closing it out with three consecutive points.
That first frame would be as close at the Orediggers would get the rest of the way as Central Missouri showed why they have the lofty national ranking. The Jennies ran away with the second set (25-15), and despite a late run by Mines the result was never truly in doubt in the third and final frame.
The third set was still an impressive comeback for Mines though as they trailed by as much as 10 points (17-7), and refused to go away quietly. The first big run in the comeback was a 6-0 one that brought the UCM lead to 17-13 which featured kills from
Ashlyn Eitemiller and
Alanna Winfield, and a service ace from
Taryn Huber.
Central Missouri then looked to pull away for good when they grew the lead back out to 23-14, but Mines came storming back again on fabulous serving from
Ellie Monarch to get the lead back down to 24-21. Unfortunately, that big Jennie lead ended up being enough as they got the final kill to stop the rally.
Notables
- Mines once again got another huge match from senior
Alanna Winfield who threw down a game-high 16 kills on a team-best .297 attacking percentage.
- Winfield also had a team-high 9 digs and three blocks (one solo).
- Tied with Winfield in the team-lead for blocks was
Ellie Monarch. Monarch also had three service aces which all came in the third set comeback attempt.
Up Next
Mines now awaits to play Saint Leo at 2:30 p.m. for their final match of the Colorado Premier Challenge.
