#25 Mines (9-2, 3-0) vs. Adams State (4-6, 1-1)  – Friday, 7 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
#25 Mines (9-2, 3-0) vs. Fort Lewis (1-5, 1-1)  – Saturday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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WE'RE COMIN' HOME
The #25-ranked Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team plays its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) home openers this weekend against Adams State and Fort Lewis inside Lockridge Arena. Mines enters the weekend tied for first place with Colorado Mesa in the conference standings with following a 3-0 start to league play.
 
THREE MATCHES IN FIVE DAYS
Mines opened its conference slate last week and rolled into this week with three matches in five days. The Orediggers started league play off with a bang Friday by upsetting #15 Regis on its home court. Mines proceeded to knock of Colorado Christian in five sets in Lakewood Saturday and wrapped up the road trip with a sweep of UCCS in the springs Tuesday.
 
WEATHER REPORT
It doesn't matter. All of Mines' matches are played in the confines of Lockridge Arena. See below for more on the Orediggers' home court.
 
T-SHIRTS, TECH TATTOOS AND REUNIONS
This weekend's matches feature numerous promotions and giveaways. Friday's match is a Blue Crew Double Points event and features Denver Athletic Fan Frenzy T-Shirt toss and free Tech Tattoos to the first 100 fans. Saturday evening is 2018 Camper Reunion Night with free admission for 2018 summer campers, $4 group tickets for friends and family, more free t-shirts in the Denver Athletic Fan Frenzy T-Shirt Toss.
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
The Grizzlies roll into Golden sporting an overall mark of 4-6 while sitting even at 1-1 in RMAC play. Adams State's only conference win came in a sweep at home against Chadron State. Hannah Goddard leads ASU's attack with 122 kills, hitting .135. Rachael Ringler boasts assists while Mackenzie Swanson has recorded 159 digs.
 
GRRRRRRRIZZLIES
Adams State Athletics currently carries the nickname Grizzlies which refers to a large population of brown bear in North America. Scientists prefer the term North American brown bear over grizzly. The term is originally tied to explorers Lewis and Clark who first described the creature as grisly which transformed to grizzly in reference to the mammal's golden and grey tips of hair. ASU was previously known as the Indians.
 
SCOUTING FORT LEWIS
Fort Lewis is scheduled to face UCCS in Colorado Springs Friday before journeying further north to face Mines. The Skyhawks have just one win this season – a four-set affair at home against Chadron State. At 1-5 overall and 1-1 in the RMAC, FLC has its work cut out against the Orediggers. Haley Christiansen is the Skyhawks leading weapon on offense with a team-best 73 kills. Fort Lewis splits the setter duties with Bella Valdez and Kendra Swackenberg combining for 218 assists.
 
WHAT'S A SKYHAWK?
Fort Lewis' Skyhawk mascot is not actually an animal, rather the name attached to multiple types of aircraft including Cessna's, attack jets and helicopters. The term is also considered slang for someone who doesn't allow fun, or a stick in the mud.
 
LOCKRIDGE ARENA
Fondly referred to as "The Lock", Mines' home court for volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball features seating for 3,000 at Oredigger home athletics events. The venue has also twice hosted the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball South Central Regional Tournament. Additionally, Lockridge Arena hosts numerous major campus events and has been graced by the presence of Barack Obama, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye and many others.
 
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Since 2011, the Orediggers are 101-11 on their home floor and have not lost more than two home matches in any given season during that time. This season, Mines is 4-0 inside Lockridge Arena thanks to a strong start at the season-opening Oredigger Volleyball Classic. The Orediggers' best marks at home are 16-1 in 2013 and 2015 with a 13-1 home record in 2016.
 
RMAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
The Orediggers 2-0 start to RMAC play featured a team effort with a couple standout performers. Abby Tiesman and Elle Duis earned RMAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively after helping Mines to a pair of five-set wins at Regis and Colorado Christian. Tiesman's honors were fueled by 32 kills and 11 blocks while Duis collected 49 digs over 10 sets. It is the second award for Tiesman this season and the first of Duis' career.
 
BACK IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Mines returned to the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Poll at #25 in NCAA Division II. The Orediggers have appeared in the national rankings 84 of the last 85 weeks. Other notable teams in the national poll include RMAC foe Regis (21), regional foe Tarleton State (20) and 2018 Oredigger Volleyball Classic participant Palm Beach Atlantic (4).
 
KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
In 2017, Mines shared the RMAC regular season title. The Orediggers are picking up where they left off, sitting atop the conference standings. At 3-0, Mines sits in a tie for first with Colorado Mesa. Dixie State and MSU Denver are not far behind, tied for third at 2-0. Regis and New Mexico Highlands are tied for fifth with one loss each (2-1). A four-way tie for seventh rounds out the potential RMAC Tournament field with Adams State, South Dakota Mines, Westminster and Fort Lewis jockeying for early position at 1-1.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Following its weekend at home, Mines takes to the road again for matches at South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State Sept. 21 and 22. Live stats and video of the matches will be available at www.MinesAthletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.