#6 Mines (13-1, 6-0 RMAC) vs. Adams State (7-8, 3-3 RMAC) – Friday, 6 p.m. – Lockridge Arena [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
#6 Mines (13-1, 6-0 RMAC) vs. New Mexico Highlands (6-10, 2-4 RMAC) – Saturday, 5 p.m. – Lockridge Arena [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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KEEP IT ROLLIN'
With 10 consecutive wins and counting, the #6-ranked Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team returns to Lockridge Arena this Friday and Saturday for matches against Adams State and New Mexico Highlands. Friday's showdown begins at 6 p.m. with "Professor Appreciation Night." Saturday is a standard, 5 p.m. first serve. Both opponents have improved greatly from one-win and two-win seasons when they last played. If Mines wants to run their own streak to 12, the Orediggers will have to stay locked in and focused for each rally.
 
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.
 
ROAD TRIP RECAP
The Orediggers celebrated their 2021-22 Homecoming on the road with wins at Western Colorado and Fort Lewis. Mines swept past WCU on Friday thanks to Lindsey Jin's 12 kills and .400 hitting. Saturday's match at FLC took four sets, but the Orediggers prevailed with three individuals in double-digit kills and Elle Duis pumping out 25 digs. The two wins moved Mines from its best start since 2014 to the best start in program history.
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
After starting the year 1-3, Adams State shocked the DII volleyball world with a sweep of then #2-ranked Angelo State in Alamosa. Since that stunning upset, the Grizzlies have posted a .500 record and now sit 7-8 overall with a 3-3 mark in RMAC action. Their conference wins include two five-set thrillers at Colorado Christian and Westminster with a sweep of Chadron State. Meanwhile, Colorado Mesa, UCCS and CSU Pueblo have all toppled ASU. In terms of statistics, Sai Collins and Shannon Mulkey are both over 100 kills apiece. However, it's the defense to keep an eye on with four players touting 25 blocks or more. In fact, as a team, Adams State ranks #27 in the nation in total blocks and #36 in blocks per set. Additional notes include Mulkey as the top hitter with a .257 attack percentage. Sierra Leone Sanchez and Aileen Bugas are both over 100 digs on the year. The Grizzlies are hitting .168 as a team with opponents converting at a .211 clip.
 
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
New Mexico Highlands did not play volleyball in the spring and in 2019, the Cowgirls posted a final record of 1-25 overall while going 0-18 in the RMAC. Through 16 matches this fall, NMHU has already racked up six wins including two conference victories. The Cowgirls' signature decisions include a four-setter at Southeastern Oklahoma State and sweeps of Chadron State and UCCS. A notable loss came in five sets to a CSU Pueblo program that was receiving votes in the national poll at the time. Individually, Keegan Lopez is the name to know as she quickly approaches 200 kills on the season. Three other Cowgirls also boast more than 100 kills. Bayley Willis is most efficient on the team with a .259 hitting percentage. On defense, Bryanna Lopez has over 400 digs through 16 matches. Taley Ferrari touts nearly 70 blocks. As a team, NMHU ranks #17 in the nation in total blocks, #20 in team kills, #21 in team assists, and #26 in total attacks.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Orediggers are 32-34 all-time against Adams State, but boast 11 straight wins over the Grizzlies. Against New Mexico Highlands, Mines leads the rivalry by a 32-28 margin thanks to 13 consecutive victories. The last meeting between the Orediggers and Grizzlies was a sweep for Mines on March 7, 2021, as part of the RMAC pod at Lockridge Arena. Mines and NMHU haven't played since Oct. 19, 2019, when the Orediggers swept the Cowgirls in Golden. The last time ASU defeated Mines was Nov. 22, 2013. Since that time, the Orediggers have swept Adams State seven times in 11 wins. New Mexico Highlands' last victory over Mines was Oct. 1, 2004. The ensuing win streak for the Orediggers includes nine sweeps and zero five-setters in 13 wins.
 
MAGALEI VS. THE OPPOSITION
As has become recent tradition, the following highlights the overall record for Mines Head Coach Jamie Magalei since she took over in 2008. Magalei is 15-3 versus Adams State in her career at the helm. She actually lost her first-ever meeting with the Grizzlies in straight sets. Against NMHU, Magalei touts an unblemished 10-0 mark, dropping just two sets total to the Cowgirls in her tenure. That makes Mines' head lady a combined 25-3 against this weekend's opponents.
 
THE STREAK
As mentioned above, Mines rolls into the weekend riding a 10-match win streak. It has helped the Orediggers to their best start ever. The previous best start was a 12-1 mark to open the 2014 campaign. In terms of win streaks, Mines' active run is currently tied for #7 in NCAA Division II. The top team is Nova Southeastern which boasts 18 consecutive wins. MSU Denver is tied with the Orediggers thanks to a 10-match surge of its own. In program history, the 2021 streak is nice, but not the best. Mines ran off 15 straight victories in 2013 despite losing three straight to start the season. That 2013 run fueled the Orediggers' fifth straight trip to the NCA Tournament where the defeated Western New Mexico before falling to Angelo State in five sets during the regional semifinal.
 
CARPE TEMPUS
While many are familiar with the latin phrase, "carpe diem," which means, "seize the day." However, the title of this section is actually, "sieze the season." This refers to Oredigger graduate student and outside hitter Lindsey Jin who has caught fire in five of her last six matches which has also fueled impressive season statistics as well. The Colorado Springs native is playing her sixth campaign with Mines after the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on what should have been her senior year. Now, the mechanical engineering master's candidate is taking full advantage. On the year, Jin is hitting .312 on the outside with 125 kills and a clip of 2.78 kills per set. Those numbers rank #8 and #13 in the RMAC, respectively. Over her last six matches, the Pine Creek High School graduate touts an attack percentage of .349 and 71 kills with a 3.23 kills per set average which ranks second on the team during that span. She's also added six service aces and six total blocks over the six-match stretch as well. Furthermore, if a mediocre performance against South Dakota Mines is eliminated, Jin's numbers jump to .391 and 63 kills at 3.50 kills per set which tie for the team lead and rank second on the squad. The graduate student's previous best season featured a .291 hitting percentage as a true freshman in 2017 and 3.29 kills per set. Needless to say, Jin is certainly seizing the season.
 
RMAC UPDATE
With three weekends of conference action in the books, Mines remains tied for first in the RMAC standings with MSU Denver. However, the Orediggers' 13-1 overall record is tops in the league. CSU Pueblo is right behind the top two squads at 6-1 in the league and 12-3 overall. Regis rounds out the top four with a 5-1 RMAC record and 10-4 overall mark. If the season ended today, Colorado Mesa, Western Colorado, Adams State and Colorado Christian would round out the RMAC Tournament field. However, with plenty of volleyball left to play, South Dakota Mines, New Mexico Highlands and Fort Lewis sit just one game out of the top eight in the league.
 
STILL PRETTY GOOD
Last weekend's performances on the road only bolstered Mines' standing in the national statistical rankings. The Orediggers still rank #1 in the nation in hitting percentage while sitting #2 in kills per set, #4 in assists per set and #7 in overall win-loss percentage. Individually, Drew Stokes is #2 in DII in assists per set and #23 in total assists. Taylor Hicken and Amanda Donais rank #5 and #14, respectively in hitting percentage. The end.
 
THE NATIONAL POLL
Mines moved from #8 into a tied for #6 with Wayne State (Neb.) in this week's AVCA DII Top 25. It marks the fourth straight week that the Orediggers have improved their national ranking. There were no changes to the top six in the national rankings with Washburn #1, MSU Denver #2, Angelo State #3, Central Missouri #5 and Concordia-St. Paul #6. However, Concordia-St. Paul did lose earlier this week. No other RMAC programs appeared in the fifth edition of the national list, and UT Tyler at #18 was the only other team from the South Central Region. Southwest Minnesota State, which dealt Mines their only loss of the season so far, dropped from #6 to #11.
 
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK
Since Oct. 1, the Colorado School of Mines Athletic Department is a perfect 8-0-0 in head-to-head competition. All eight wins have come in RMAC action. Four of the Orediggers' six teams competing in the fall are ranked top-six or better in the nation. That includes the men's cross country team tied for #1 in the nation. Football, men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball are all undefeated in conference play and first, or tied for first, in the RMAC standings. It should be noted that cross country and golf do not have conference standings during the regular season. Overall this fall, Mines' teams are a combined 33-5-2 (16-0-0 RMAC) in head-to-head competition with the cross country teams adding three teams titles as well. Not too shabby for a bunch of nerds.
 
UP NEXT
After this weekend's home stand, the volleyball team hits the road for four straight matches starting with Colorado Christian on Oct. 15 and #2 MSU Denver on Oct. 16. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be offered 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.