The #20-ranked Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team opens its season once again with the long-standing Oredigger Classic. The 2018 edition features an invitational format with six teams on two courts over two days. Matches begin Friday at 1 p.m. and conclude Saturday at 4 p.m. for a total of 12 matches on the weekend. Mines welcomes Cal State East Bay, Davenport, Lee, #12 Palm Beach Atlantic and Sioux Falls to Lockridge Arena. The Orediggers' four matches include Davenport, Cal State East Bay, Lee and Sioux Falls.
 
NEW NAME, SAME COACH
The Orediggers' head coach enters her 11th season at the helm, but carries a new surname into the 2018 campaign. The former Jamie Skadeland is now Jamie Magalei (pronounced - Mong-UH-lay) after marrying Issiah Magalei this summer. As Mines' head coach, Magalei holds a career record of 232-81 overall with a 148-36 mark in RMAC play. Under her direction, Mines won four consecutive RMAC regular season championships (2012-15), the program's first ever RMAC Tournament Championships (2015 and 2016) and advanced to nine straight NCAA tournaments.

LOOKING BACK AT 2017
Last season, Mines Volleyball went 25-6 overall and 17-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play on its way to a share of the regular-season title. The Orediggers finished runner-up in the RMAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the second round before falling to Regis, 3-1. All said, Mines finished the season with two All-Americans in Marina Hansen and Abby Tiesman while placing six on the all-RMAC team. Hansen garnered RMAC Setter of the Year honors as she finished second in the nation in assists per set. Lindsey Jin joined Hansen and Tiesman to make a trio of all-region honorees.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Mines returns some critical talent for 2018 while mixing in a lot of new faces. On a squad of 15, there are six returners and nine true freshman. Standing out among the veterans are Abby Tiesman and Lindsey Jin. Tiesman earned all-American honors in 2017 as she led the Orediggers in attack percentage (.339) and blocks (106.0). Jin joined Tiesman on the all-Region squads while she led the team with 369 kills at a pace of 3.29 kills per set. Making up the incoming class of freshman are Danielle Mullen, Cora McCanlies, Elle Duis (sister of Delaney Duis), Amanda Donais, Julia Eiken, Megan Neil, Hannah Martin, Drew Stokes and Taylor Hicken.
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Three of Mines' four season-opening opponents posted a plus-.500 record in 2017. Cal State East Bay, Lee and Sioux Falls combined to go 53-31 last season. Despite finishing under .500 in 2017, Davenport (13-15) knocked off NCAA Division I Central Michigan in an exhibition match this fall on Aug. 18. The Orediggers will not face Palm Beach Atlantic this weekend. However, the Sailfish enter 2018 ranked #12 in the AVCA Preseason National Poll after going 26-4 in 2017, rounding out a field stacked with talent and potential.
 
PRESEASON POLLS
The Orediggers enter 2018 ranked #20 in the AVCA Preseason National Poll. Mines jumped one spot in the rankings after closing 2017 ranked #21. In the RMAC Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll, the Orediggers were picked to finish second in the league with one first-place voted and 208 points. Regis was picked to win it all with 15 first-place votes and 225 points. MSU Denver and Colorado Christian round out the top four in the 2018 projections.
 
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
As previously mentioned, Lindsey Jin and Abby Tiesman had stellar campaigns in 2017. Thanks to their performances last season, both Orediggers garnered preseason all-RMAC distinction. The duo returns more than 700 combined kills and nearly 150 combined blocks. Fans should watch for the tandem of Jin and Tiesman as a force to be reckoned with in 2018.
 
ROAD TO NOVEMBER
Following the 2018 Oredigger Classic, Mines hits the road for seven straight matches including four at the UIndy Tournament Aug. 31 – Sept. 1 in Indianapolis. RMAC play kicks of Sept. 7 at Regis and continues with two more road matches at Colorado Christian and UCCS. The Orediggers' RMAC home opener is Sept. 14 against Adams State inside Lockridge Arena. For the final six weeks of the season, Mines goes every other weekend home and away.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines heads to Indianapolis Aug. 31 – Sept. 1 for the UIndy Invitational where it will face Harding, Winona State, Quincy and UIndy. Live stats and video will be available at MinesAthletics.com.