LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team dominated Colorado Christian in every facet of the game on Saturday afternoon as the Orediggers claimed a 3-0 victory inside the CCU Event Center.
 
Taylor Hicken served as the tip of the spear with 11 kills on 14 attempts and no errors, hitting .786 overall. Hicken also added three blocks, three service aces and two digs. Lindsey Jin and Amanda Donais provided additional offensive production with eight kills apiece while hitting .263 and .538, respectively. Defensively, Elle Duis anchored the back row and came up with 10 digs and knocked down four service aces. Drew Stokes coordinated it all by way of 32 assists along with six digs, three blocks, one ace and one kill.
 
Mines (2-1, 2-1 RMAC) converted at a rate of .403 on offense, and capitalized in the service game with eight total aces. The Orediggers also had eight blocks which held Colorado Christian (0-1, 0-1 RMAC) to a match hitting percentage of .061. Mines led the Cougars in nearly every statistical category listed on the box score. The win keeps the Orediggers in fourth place in the RMAC standings with the top three teams having yet to play a third match.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After last year's five-set loss in Lakewood, Mines rolled into the CCU Events Center looking for payback. The Orediggers did not disappoint. Both teams exchanged points early in the opening set before Hicken knocked down a kill that broke a 4-4 tie and sparked a 6-0 run. As the Cougars attempted to recover, Mines put together an 8-0 run to seal the win and a 1-0 lead in the match. It was Hicken knocking down the kill for the final point for the 25-15 victory.
 
Set two saw the home team push the battle all the way out to a narrow 18-17 deficit. However, Mines prevailed again with a late 6-0 run. Donais and Megan Neil contributed to the outburst and CCU didn't help its cause with three attack errors over that stretch. In fact, it was a Cougar attack error that ended the frame at 25-19, giving the Orediggers a 2-0 advantage in the match. Mines took that momentum into the final set and claimed a 4-0 lead early thanks to kills from Eiken and Jin with an ace from Duis. The closest CCU got to tying the game was 6-5, and the Orediggers did not look back. Two Hicken aces and a Cougar service error finished the sweep with a final score of 25-16
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 38-24 in the all-time series against Colorado Christian.
- Friday was just the second sweep in the series since 2015.
- Hicken's hitting percentage ties her career best set in 2018 at New Mexico Highlands.
- Duis's four aces are a career best for the junior. She previously had three aces in a single match on three occasions.
- Donais's eight kills put her over 500 kills for her career.
- Stokes now has 50 service aces in her career.
- Danielle Mullen made her season debut and produced three digs in the back row.
- Head coach Jamie Magalei is 283-95 in her 13th season at Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers host South Dakota Mines on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. No spectators will be allowed. However, live stats and video will be available for free at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can follow the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team on Twitter at @MinesVolleyball and on Instagram at @Mines_Volleyball. Fans can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.