GOLDEN, Colo.  – The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team extended its winning streak to five matches Saturday as the #25-ranked Orediggers took down Fort Lewis (1-7, 1-3 RMAC) in three sets.
 
The duo of Hannah Martin and Abby Tiesman dominated the Skyhawks on offense and defense. Tiesman led the way with 13 kills on 31 attempts (.387) and nine total blocks. Martin was not far behind with 12 kills in 20 tries (.550) and five stuffs. True freshman Drew Stokes captained the offense with ease as she dished out 44 assists at a rate of 14.66 assists per set.
 
Defensively, Mines was nearly unstoppable as three Orediggers finished with double-digit digs. Elle Duis racked up a team-high 14. Lindsey Jin collected 12 digs and Danielle Mullen put up 10. Stokes joined Tiesman and Martin at the block party with five total blocks of her own. As a team, Mines combined for 12.5 blocks in the match.
 
The victory puts the Orediggers (11-2, 5-0 RMAC) alone atop the conference standings. Fort Lewis (1-7, 1-3 RMAC) falls into a tie for 12th.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tiesman and Taylor Hicken broke open a closely fought first set as Tiesman broke an 11-11 tie, sparking a 6-1 run in which Hicken accounted for two of the kills. The Skyhawks rallied back within two (16-18) but three Orediggers blocks down the stretch gave Mines the 25-19 win and a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Set two saw Tiesman spark another rally early in the game, fueling Mines' 5-0 run to take a three-point lead, 7-4. Fort Lewis picked up the attack with three straight kills and pulled within one point, 9-10. Then, at 14-13, an Oredigger block sandwiched between two Lindsey Jin kills put Mines back in the driver's seat. Three blocks down the stretch, including set point, put the Orediggers up 2-0 (25-18) headed into intermission.
 
In the final set, Mines clicked on all cylinders. The Orediggers recorded three service aces, three total blocks and hit .256 with 16 kills to cruise to victory. Tiesman and Martin combined for eight of the kills in the final set.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines has swept the last 12 meetings against Fort Lewis.
- The Orediggers have not dropped a set to the Skyhawks since 2009.
- Mines 6-0 at home in 2018.
- Six of Mines' 11 victories have come in three sets.
- The Orediggers hit .305 as a team on the weekend.
- Stokes finished the weekend with 88 assists at 14.67 assists per set.
- Tiesman's nine blocks against Fort Lewis mark a career high for the junior.
- Martin and Tiesman combined for 50 kills on the weekend.
- Lindsey Jin and April Jergensen accounted for all four of Mines' aces against Fort Lewis.
- Coach Magalei is 243-83 in 11 seasons at Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines travels to South Dakota Friday to face South Dakota Mines at 7 p.m. Live stats and video 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.