GOLDEN, Colo. – The #4-seed Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team opened the 2019 RMAC Tournament on Tuesday night with five-set victory over fifth-seeded Colorado Mesa inside Lockridge Arena.

Amanda Donais was Mines' top hitter through five sets, knocking down 14 kills and hitting .382 with seven blocks, four digs and two service aces. Rose Stuewe, Abby Tiesman and Lindsey Jin made it a quartet of Orediggers touting double-digit kills in the home team's balanced attack. Additionally, Taylor Hicken came off the bench and hit .800 thanks to four kills on five attempts and zero errors. At setter, Drew Stokes racked up 45 assists and notched four blocks and 12 digs for the double-double. Defensively, Tiesman turned in seven total blocks while Julia Eiken added six of her own. In the back row, Elle Duis led all Orediggers thanks to 13 digs.
 
The Orediggers (21-6) see their winning streak run to six straight matches thanks to Tuesday's victory. While Mines did out-hit Colorado Mesa (17-10) by margin of .259-.256, it was 14 total blocks that gave the home team the win. The Orediggers also produced more kills, assists and digs than the Mavericks. Colorado Mesa held the advantage in the service game thanks to six aces. However, CMU's season is likely over as it sits on the outside of the top eight in the NCAA Regional rankings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tuesday night's match wrote itself like an epic novel with each set serving as its own chapter. In the opening game, Mines played the hero and defeated its nemesis thanks to six blocks. That defense held Colorado Mesa to just .093 on the attack, and four of the blocks came off the hands of Tiesman. Offensively, Stuewe and Donais added four kills apiece and the Orediggers cruised to a 25-20 win and a 1-0 lead in the match. However, the storyline flip-flopped in the second set as CMU hit .300 and held Mines to .152 on the attack. Both teams recorded three blocks apiece, and the Mavericks evened the match thanks to a 25-21 win.
 
Prior to the intermission, the match had seen a total of 20 ties and seven lead changes, but that would change after the break between sets two and three. In the third frame, the score only tied twice and Mines only trailed twice. The Orediggers owned the set thanks to four more blocks that led to a negative hitting percentage for the visitors. Three kills each from Stuewe and Donais helped the home team run away with a 25-17 victory. Nevertheless, CMU would keep Mines from victory once again. The Mavericks used three blocks of their own while the Orediggers managed none in the fourth set. That led to a 25-19 win for the visitors and a decisive fifth set.
 
In the climactic final set of a modern-day classic, both sides went blow-for-blow from beginning to end. The Orediggers took the lead first, but were matched each point all the way to 5-5. Then, it was Colorado Mesa's turn as it ran off three straight points and forced teams to change sides with an 8-6 advantage. Mines responded by way of a Donais kill and a CMU error to tie the score at 8-8. The Mavericks retook the lead but kills from Jin and Stuewe combined with a bad set by Mesa made it a 5-1 run for the Orediggers. However, the visitors were not done yet. The Mavericks roared back to take a 13-12 lead, forcing a Mines timeout. That break proved to be the ultimate turning point. Hicken came out and tied the score at 13 with a smooth shot down the line. Stuewe made it 14-13 thanks to a kill of her own and CMU called its final timeout – to no avail. On the final rally, Stokes sent a set to Donais that brought Mavericks crashing to the net. But the defense was too aggressive. As Donais took her swing, a blocking error was whistled and Mines claimed the final point and the victory.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 11-5 against Colorado Mesa with Jamie Magalei as head coach. Eight of those matches have gone five sets including the last three.
- Tuesday gave the Orediggers a 2-0 mark against the Mavericks in 2019 with both wins coming in five sets. CMU finished the season 0-3 in five-set matches.
- Under Magalei, Mines is now 15-9 in the RMAC Tournament and 9-2 since 2015.
- The Orediggers' 14 blocks on Tuesday night are the most for the Orediggers in a single match this season.
- Stokes' 45 assists against CMU give her 1,178 on the season, which ranks #8 on Mines' all-time list.
- Additionally, Stokes' double-double on Tuesday evening marks her seventh of the season and 14th of her career which leads all active Orediggers.
- Elle Duis moved over 400 digs on the season for the second time in her career. She also recorded eight assists against the Mavericks which marks a single-match, career high.
- Tiesman's eight blocks put the senior over 100 on the year and up to 336 in her career.
- True freshman Audrey Richard recorded the 100th dig of her career and of the season while April Jergensen moved over 400 for her career on Tuesday night.
- Head coach Jamie Magalei is 276-93 in 12 seasons at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines advances to the 2019 RMAC Tournament Semifinals against top-seeded, #5-ranked Regis on Friday at 7 p.m. in Denver at Regis Fieldhouse. Live stats and video of the match 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. Fans can also follow Mines Volleyball on Twitter using the handle @MinesVolleyball.