(4) Mines (21-6, 13-5 RMAC) at (1) #5 Regis (25-3, 17-1 RMAC) – Friday, 7 p.m. – Denver, Colo. – [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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ON THE RMAC NETWORK
Every Mines home game and all RMAC contests can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC".
 
2019 RMAC TOURNAMENT - CONTINUED  [Bracket]
This Friday, the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team continues its run in the 2019 RMAC Tournament. In their 12th straight conference tournament appearance, the Orediggers are headed to Denver to face top-seeded and #5-ranked Regis in the semifinals. For eight straight seasons, Mines has won some combination or share of a RMAC title. However, that streak is on the line Friday night. A win sends the Orediggers to the tournament championship match. However, a loss ends Mines' epic title streak at eight. It promises to be a hotly-contested semifinal match inside Regis Fieldhouse against the #5-ranked team in the nation. On the other side of the bracket, second-seeded MSU Denver faces off against the #3 seed Dixie State. That winner will face the winner of Mines and Regis in the championship match on Saturday.
 
SEMIFINAL RECAP
Mines' quarterfinal match against Colorado Mesa on Tuesday night turned into an instant, modern-day classic. For the second time in 10 days, the Orediggers defeated Colorado Mesa in five sets. The difference this time was the victory came inside Lockridge Arena. The home team had four individuals produce double-digit kills including Amanda Donais (14), Rose Stuewe (13), Abby Tiesman (12) and Lindsey Jin (10). The back row featured two Orediggers with double-digit digs thanks to Elle Duis and Drew Stokes. However, the biggest difference came at the net in the form of blocks. Mines knocked down 14 blocks in the victory, led by seven from Tiesman and six from Julia Eiken. It marked the third straight five-set match between the Orediggers and Mavericks and the eighth five-setter in the all-time series. Tuesday also gave Mines a 2-0 record against Colorado Mesa in the 2019 season.
 
SCOUTING REGIS
Regis enters the semifinals riding a 16-match win streak. The Rangers last loss came in four sets against MSU Denver on Sept. 27 inside Regis Fieldhouse. Since that time, RU has swept 13 opponents. That run also includes 12 consecutive straight-sets victories. Regis' sweeps run was snapped in the RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals, but the Rangers still came out on top with a 3-1 victory over UCCS. Individually, setter Silvia Basso won RMAC Setter of the Year and RMAC Player of the Year honors behind 837 assists at a clip of 11.16 assists per set. She also boasts 22 kills, 19 service aces, 134 digs and 24 blocks. Nikki Kennedy leads the attack on 356 kills and a .330 hitting percentage. She also touts 108 blocks on the year. Caitlyn Burroway serves as another player to watch. She leads the team with 307 digs but also has 256 kills to her name.
 
FAMOUS RANGERS
In the last two meetings between Mines and Regis, fans learned that Regis University started in New Mexico. Fans also learned that Colorado Rangers are kind of like a mounted national guard. This time around, the focus is famous rangers. The two most famous rangers that might come to mind are Wayne Gretzky and Chuck Norris. But they have nothing to do with Regis University. Some of RU's notable alumni include MLB player Steven Brault, NFL player Arne Herber, Chris Farley's brother John P. Farley and even the mayor of Tulsa, Okla., Dewey F. Bartlett Jr.  However, the most famous alumni of Regis University is easily actor and comedian Bill Murray. That's right, the Saturday Night Live and Caddyshack star attended RU in the Mile High City. He took pre-med classes but did not graduate. In 2007, the school awarded Murray an honorary Doctor of the Humanities degree. And now you know.
 
REGIS FIELDHOUSE
Friday's match will be held inside Regis Fieldhouse on the campus of Regis just outside downtown Denver. Built in 1960, the venue seats 1,800 spectators and also serves as the home court for the men's and women's basketball teams. The Fieldhouse also served as the site of the first three rounds of the 2017 NCAA Volleyball tournament. Seating is arranged in two tiers allowing fans courtside access or a birds-eye view of Regis home events.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The 2019 RMAC Tournament Semifinal match marks the third meeting between Mines and Regis this season. The Rangers dominated the first two contests in a pair of sweeps. Abby Tiesman was the top hitter in both those events, combining for a total of 19 kills over six sets. Additionally, Elle Duis came up with 28 digs. Over the last three seasons, the series between RU and Mines has been hotly contested. In 2017, Regis bested the Orediggers with three straight wins that included a season-ending loss in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, Mines rolled to a 2-0 record against the Rangers on its way to a RMAC regular-season title. This year, Regis is clearly back in the driver's seat. However, one never knows what can happen in the postseason.
 
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
If you've read this far, you know that Jamie Magalei has been head coach at Mines since 2008. Heather Roberts has been her assistant coach the entire time. Since their arrival, Mines has won six RMAC regular-season titles, advanced to 12 consecutive RMAC Tournaments and won two of them. Under Magalei and Roberts, Mines is 15-9 in the conference postseason. However, since 2015, the Orediggers are 9-2 in the league tournament. Magalei and Roberts have guided Mines to one #6 seed, one #5 seed, two #4 seeds, one #3 seed, three #2 seeds and four #1 seeds. The Orediggers won their first RMAC Tournament as a #1 seed in 2015.
 
NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
Mines is ranked #3 in the latest edition of the NCAA Regional Rankings. In the South Central Region, the Orediggers only trail Regis and Angelo State. While Mines remains unranked in the AVCA National Rankings, it's the NCAA Regional Rankings that determine which teams will advance to the NCAA postseason. The top eight teams in the final regional poll will advance to the NCAA South Central Regional tournament hosted by the #1 seed. If the season ended today, Regis would be hosting the first, second and third rounds, with Mines facing off against West Texas A&M. It should be noted that the Orediggers already defeated both Angelo State and UAFS earlier this season. The rest of the poll features Texas A&M-Commerce at #4, UAFS at #5, West Texas A&M at #6, Tarleton State at #7 and MSU Denver at #8. Dixie State and St. Edward's are currently on the outside looking in at #9 and #10.
 
FUN COACH FACTS
Fun coach facts are on hold until the completion of the RMAC Tournament. Thank you for your understanding.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
A win for Mines on Friday carries the Orediggers into the RMAC Tournament Championship match where they face either MSU Denver or Dixie State. However, a loss means Mines awaits the NCAA Selection Show slated to air Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. Additional information on the finals or the NCAA Tournament 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.