#12 Mines (17-3, 10-2 RMAC) vs. CSU Pueblo (14-5, 9-3 RMAC) – Friday, 7 p.m. – Lockridge Arena [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
#12 Mines (17-3, 10-2 RMAC) vs. UCCS (6-13, 3-9 RMAC) – Saturday, 5 p.m. – Lockridge Arena [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

---

HOME COOKIN'
After two weeks and four matches on the road, the #12 Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team returns home for a four-match home stand starting this Friday against CSU Pueblo inside Lockridge Arena. The Orediggers and ThunderWolves face off starting at 7 p.m. on Friday. Saturday features a faceoff between the Orediggers and UCCS at 5 p.m. Fans who attend Saturday's home football game can also get into Saturday's match for free and will get to enjoy a Harry Potter themed evening. With six matches remaining in the regular season, Mines is fighting for a top-four seed and hosting rights in the first round of the RMAC Tournament. That being said, every match and every point will prove big for the Orediggers from here on out.
 
FAN INFORMATION
Mines athletics continues to welcome fans back to home matches this fall. Masks are strongly encouraged for all guests at all on-campus events. Tickets for all matches are available at the box office (cash or credit) or online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
The RMAC Network has relaunched for 2021-22, and fans used to watching on their smart TV or other device must download the new app by searching "RMAC" in your device's app store. The new watch portal is available online at www.minesathletics.com/tv or www.rmacnetwork.com. All Mines home matches will stream live and for free on the RMAC Network this fall.
 
LOOKING BACK
Last week, the Orediggers traveled to Chadron State on Tuesday and then went to Regis on Saturday. Mines took care of the Eagles in four sets thanks to a career-best 22 kills off the hand of Rose Stuewe. The Orediggers suffered a five-set setback to the Rangers despite four individuals in double-digit kills along with Drew Stokes' resume featuring 49 assists, eight digs, five aces, three blocks and three kills. Overall, Mines went 2-2 on its four-match road trip with the first loss coming at now #1-ranked MSU Denver.
 
SCOUTING CSU PUEBLO
Prior to the 2020-21 school year, CSU Pueblo volleyball had not posted a winning record since 2014. Then, in the spring, the ThunderWolves posted a mark of 11-4 and have carried that momentum into the spring. Through 20 matches, "The Pack" is 15-5 overall while sitting 9-3 in conference play. One signature match for CSU Pueblo was a five-set loss to then #3 MSU Denver. The ThunderWolves are 3-1 over their last four and fresh off a five-set loss to Colorado Mesa which is receiving votes in the national poll. CSU Pueblo's biggest strength as a team is defensively at the net where "The Pack" ranks #24 in the nation in blocks per set. Individually, Hannah Delor drives the service game with 41 service aces which ranks her #15 in the nation in total aces and #19 in aces per set. Payton Slack is the other player to watch on offense. She touts 207 kills and a .296 hitting percentage. In the back row, its Elaine Thibadeau boasting 295 digs which has fueled multiple RMAC Defensive Player of the Week awards. Jazzy Espinosa is the leading blocker with 84 blocks at a clip of 1.11 blocks per set.
 
SCOUTING UCCS
Though not head-to-head, Mines did get a look at UCCS early in the season after traveling to the Mountain Lion Classic in Colorado Springs. There, the Orediggers saw the Mountain Lions improve to 3-4 in non-conference play. Since that time, UCCS has posted a record of 3-9 in RMAC action. The wins have come against Adams State, Western Colorado and most recently Westminster. The Mountain Lions have been swept five different times in conference play. Lauryn Shockley serves as a bright spot for her team during a down year. Shockley boasts 259 kills at a 3.36 kill-per-set rate and a .248 hitting percentage. Outside of that, Emily Ettel brings some light at setter thanks to 522 assists. Jordyn Kinsey leads the back row with 245 digs. UCCS hits .211 as a team while giving up a .274 mark to its opponents.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Orediggers are 31-42 in the all-time series against CSU Pueblo. Mines sits 29-24 in the rivalry with UCCS. The Orediggers and ThunderWolves played last spring in a RMAC pod at CSU Pueblo where "The Pack" swept Mines. It was CSU Pueblo's first win over the Orediggers since 2011. That being said, Mines boasts a 14-2 record against CSU Pueblo dating back to 2007. Against UCCS, the Orediggers own a 14-match win streak and haven't lost to the Mountain Lions since 2012. The last three meetings have been straight-set victories for the Orediggers. Mines and UCCS haven't played a five-set match since 2013. The Orediggers and ThunderWolves last played five in 2011.
 
MAGALEI VS. THE OPPOSITION
While the volleyball program trails one all-time series against this weekend's opposition and holds a narrow edge in the other, Head Coach Jamie Magalei boasts a large advantage in both. Since taking over as the head lady in 2008, Magalei has gone 13-2 when facing the ThunderWolves with a 19-5 mark against UCCS. That makes the 14th-year skipper 32-7 in her career when playing this weekend's opponents.
 
RMAC UPDATE
After the last two weeks, Mines has gone from tied for first into a tie for third in the RMAC standings. If the season ended today, MSU Denver, Regis, Mines and Colorado Mesa would be the quarterfinal hosts in the conference tournament. The bottom half of the bracket would feature CSU Pueblo, Western Colorado, Colorado Christian and Fort Lewis. However, the ThunderWolves are only one match back of the Orediggers which makes Friday a huge showdown for both teams. Additionally, the bottom three are all tied at 6-6 with Adams State just one win out of contention for a berth. Mines till has to face Colorado Mesa which could fuel a surge upward. However, if the Orediggers overlook CSU Pueblo, they could be looking at a road contest to start the postseason. MSU Denver is the only team that has mathematically clinched a RMAC Tournament berth.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
Mines' loss to Regis resulted in a slight dip in the Orediggers' national standing. The latest AVCA DII Top 25 put Mines #12 in the nation after the Orediggers were #7 a week ago. Other RMAC programs on the list include MSU Denver at #1 and Regis reappearing in the top-25 at #24. South Central Region teams making the list are Angelo State (#6), UT Tyler (#15) and West Texas A&M (#25). In total, the RMAC owns three slots in the top-25 while the entire region combined for six on the national ist.
 
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK
As of Thursday, Oct. 28, all eight active programs in the Colorado School of Mines Athletic Department are nationally ranked. Two other teams about to start their respective seasons are also in the national polls. Men's and women's cross country lead the way at #2 and #4, respectively. They are both preparing for the NCAA South Central Regional race on Nov. 6. Men's basketball, while not active yet, is right behind at #5. Volleyball is #12 with football slotting in #14. Rounding out the list of ranked Oredigger teams are men's soccer (#17), wrestling (#18), women's soccer (#21), men's swimming (#22) and women's swimming (#23). Additionally, as a department, Mines boasts an overall record of 47-9-4 including seven ranked opponents while sitting 30-4-2 in conference action in traditional head-to-head competition.
 
UP NEXT
Mines continues its home stand next weekend, hosting Westminster on Friday at 7 p.m. with Colorado Mesa to follow on Saturday at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets or at the door. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be offered for each match at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines volleyball on Twitter at @MinesVolleyball and on Instagram at @mines.volleyball. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.