Mines (9-8, 3-4 RMAC) at CSU Pueblo (8-10, 6-2 RMAC) – Pueblo, Colo. – Friday, 7 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (9-8, 3-4 RMAC) at Adams State (5-13, 3-5 RMAC) – Alamosa, Colo. – Saturday, 4 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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ROAD WARRIORS
This weekend, the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team is back on the road to take on CSU Pueblo and Adams State. The Orediggers and ThunderWolves face off on Friday at 7 p.m. in Pueblo, Colo. Mines then faces the Grizzlies on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Alamosa. When the dust settles, the Orediggers will have played 12 of their last 15 matches away from home. Additionally, the next two matches mark the halfway point of the RMAC schedule with Mines fighting for a spot in the conference tournament.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Free live video will be offered on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. In fact, all of Mines matches for the rest of the season will be available on the RMAC Network. There will also be free live stats this weekend at the individual links above.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Mines took a trip to South Dakota last weekend where it faced South Dakota Mines on Friday and Black Hills State on Saturday. The Orediggers fell in four sets to the Hardrockers despite 25 combined kills from Madison Glassco and Rose Stuewe along with a 39 assist, 10-dig double-double from Presley Powell. Mines downed BHSU, 3-1, on Saturday thanks to Glasco's 15-kill, 19 dig double-double as she hit .522 for the match. Stuewe also had 15 kills and converted at a .344 clip. Also notable against the Yellow Jackets were 12 kills on .400 hitting from Naomi Romslo, and 10 more kills from Allison Jansen. Jansen had four total blocks as well.
 
GOING THE DISTANCE
The Orediggers have played four five-set matches during the 2023 so far. They boast a record of 3-1 in those contests. It marks the most five-set matches Mines has played during the regular season since 2019 which featured a quartet of five-set showdowns as well. The Orediggers were 1-3 when going the distance in 2019. Also notable are seven five-set matches for the Orediggers during the 2018 regular season. They dominated the marathon affairs with a mark of 5-2.
 
STUEWE KILLS TRACKER
Rose Stuewe surpassed 1,000 kills for her career during Mines' first road trip of the year which took the Orediggers to California and The Cougar Classic hosted by Cal State San Marcos. The milestone kill came against Concordia Irvine when she tied the third set at 19-19. Mines went on to win the match in four sets. Now, 17 matches into the season and five into conference play, Stuewe touts 218 kills for the year and  1,142 for her career. As of Friday, the Texan needs just 124 kills to break onto Mines' all-time career list.
 
FANTASTIC FRESHMAN
Oredigger true freshman setter Presley Powell has established herself as one of the best in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference during her inaugural collegiate season. In the very first match of her post-prep career, the Texas native dished out 64 assists which tied for #7 in the Mines record book. Those 64 assists are also tied for the most in any NCAA Division II four-set match this season. Through 17 contests, Powell's 714 assists rank #37 in NCAA Division II and her average of 10.82 assists per set rank #13 in the division. Both those numbers also sit #2 in the RMAC.
 
SCOUTING CSU PUEBLO
Colorado State University at Pueblo volleyball enters the weekend with an overall record of 8-10 while boasting a RMAC mark of 6-2. The ThunderWolves started the season 0-4 at the Texas A&M-Kingsville Invitational, and then went 1-3 at the Skyhawks Invitational in Durango, Colo. Then, CSU Pueblo turned things around at the start of conference play going 3-0 with three sweeps. The Pack's only losses in RMAC action so far have been to South Dakota Mines and then #10-ranked Colorado Mesa. CSU Pueblo also lost to then #13-ranked Regis during the RMAC Regional Pod weekend. Payton Van Veen, Sadie Scoville, and Kendall Harrington are the trio to watch. Van Veen has 201 kills on .261 hitting with 15 service aces and 43 blocks. Scoville touts 186 kills on .264 hitting with 29 aces, 25 blocks, and 217 digs. Harrington's line includes 168 kills at a .300 clip and 19 blocks.
 
MINES AGAINST THE THUNDERWOLVES
In volleyball, the Orediggers trail the all-time series against CSU Pueblo by a margin of 34-42. However, Mines does boast an active, three-match win streak against the ThunderWolves while sitting 9-1 over the last 10 meetings. The Orediggers also won 10 straight matches over CSU Pueblo from 2012-19. Last season, Mines ended The Pack's RMAC Tournament in the first round as the Orediggers claimed a five-set thriller. Stuewe stacked up 19 kills, eight digs, and four blocks. Emily Knight also had 14 kills and two blocks. During the 2022 regular season, the Orediggers down CSU Pueblo in four sets in Pueblo, Colo. It was 20 kills from Stuewe that did the trick in that match. Friday marks the first of two meetings between Mines and the ThunderWolves this season.  The Pack will be in Golden next weekend for the RMAC Power Pod.
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
The Grizzlies of Adams State are 5-13 on the year with a 3-5 mark in RMAC play. They'll face #6-ranked MSU Denver on Friday before playing Mines on Saturday. Last weekend, ASU defeated Colorado Christian in four sets in Lakewood before falling in three sets at Chadron State. The Grizzlies also own RMAC wins against New Mexico Highlands, and Black Hills State. Adams State's offense is balanced, touting four individuals over 100 kills. Cindy Garcia leads that category with 147 on .170 hitting. The defense also spreads out the duties, as evidenced by four Grizzlies with at least 100 digs. Ailee Bugas is tops there with 172 on the year. Also notable are 52 blocks from Natalie Gallegos.
 
MINES AGAINST THE GRIZZLIES
The all-time series between Colorado School of Mines and Adams State is tied at 34. The Orediggers have won 13 straight matches against the Grizzlies. Last season featured one meeting between the two teams. It resulted in a 3-1 win for Mines in Alamosa, Colo. Rose Stuewe put down 19 kills, Emily Knight had four total blocks, and Jada Price had two service aces with 12 digs. Shannon Perna added a 12-kill, 12-dig double-double as well. The last time Mines lost to ASU was Nov. 22, 2013, in four sets in Golden. The Orediggers haven't lost to Adams State in Alamosa, Colo., since Sept. 16, 2011. Mines' current run of 13 wins includes eight sweeps and two five-set thrillers. Both five-set matches were played in Golden.
 
SHE'S THE BOSS
Head Coach Jamie Magalei is in her 16th season leading the Mines volleyball program in 2023. She is easily the program's all-time leader in total wins and win percentage at 348-117 (.748). As of Aug. 30, 2023, her winning percentage ranked inside the top-20 among active coaches in NCAA Division II, and her total wins were top-50 in the same category. Additionally, her current winning percentage is top-25 all-time in DII. Magalei surpassed 300 career wins in 2021. She's one of six to reach the milestone while coaching in the RMAC. Through 2022, Magalei has coached 31 all-America selections, three Academic All-Americans, and 63 all-conference performers. Her resume also includes three Regional Players of the Year, two Regional Freshmen of the Year, and 16 RMAC major award winners. Magalei has guided Mines to six RMAC regular-season championships, and five RMAC Tournament titles with 13 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. The North Dakota native also guided the Orediggers to either a conference regular-season or tournament title every season from 2012-21 including a sweep of both in 2015.
 
UP NEXT
Mines finally returns home next weekend to host the RMAC Power Pod. The Orediggers will play non-conference matches against Colorado Christian on Thursday at 7 p.m. and against CSU Pueblo on Saturday at 5 p.m. Colorado Christian and CSU Pueblo will also play in Lockridge Arena on Friday night at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets. There will also be free live stats and video on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv.
 
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.