Mines (7-7, 1-3 RMAC) vs. New Mexico Highlands (1-14, 0-4 RMAC) – Lockridge Arena – Saturday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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RETURN TO LOCKRIDGE ARENA
The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team has not played a match at home inside Lockridge Arena since Saturday, Sept. 16. That changes on Saturday as the Orediggers welcome New Mexico Highlands to Golden for a 5 p.m. showdown. It also marks the resumption of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action after last weekend's non-conference Power Pod.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS
Fans are encouraged to purchase digital tickets or print tickets at home ahead of this weekend's match by going to www.minesathletics.com/tickets. This will expedite the entry process to Lockridge Arena. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children, seniors, and military members. Mines faculty, staff, and students get in free with their Blaster Card.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
For fans who can't make it to Lockridge Arena, 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.
 
REMEMBERING THE ROAD TRIP
Mines rounded out a four-match road trip last weekend with a pair of contests at Colorado Christian on Friday and Saturday. The two matches were part of the RMAC Power Pod which pitted conference teams against each other in non-conference matches. The Orediggers started their pod against #7-ranked MSU Denver on Friday inside the CCU Event Center and fell in three sets. Presley Powell provided the statistical highlight with her 21-assist, 10-dig double-double. On Saturday, Mines faced host Colorado Christian for the second time this season. The visitors found themselves down two sets to none while trailing 14-5 in the third frame. An 8-2 run thrust the Orediggers back into the match, and they avoided the sweep with an 8-0 run on the way to a 25-23 win. Mines eventually completed the reverse sweep of CCU, winning 3-2 thanks to Rose Stuewe's 21 kills on .340 hitting. Shannon Perna also came up big with a 17-kill, 11-dig double-double while hitting .500 on the attack.
 
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.
 
1,000 KILLS AND COUNTING
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, 14 matches into the season and four into conference play, Stuewe touts 184 kills for the year and  1,108 for her career. As of Friday, the Texan needs just 158 kills to break onto Mines' all-time career list.
 
PRESLEY POWELL
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 12 contests, Powell's 581 assists rank #25 in NCAA Division II and her average of 10.56 assists per set rank #20 in the division. Both those numbers also sit #2 in the RMAC.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Mines started the season ranked #22 in the national preseason poll managed by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA). Despite dropping out of the top-25, the Orediggers have continued receiving votes for four straight weeks. In the latest rankings, Wayne State (Neb.) remained #1, MSU Denver climbed to #7, Colorado Mesa remained #11, and Regis jumped to #13. Non-conference foe and Oredigger Volleyball Classic participant Seattle Pacific took over the #24 position. Defending national champion West Texas A&M dropped from #3 to #5.
 
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
New Mexico Highlands starts its weekend on Friday night at #7-ranked MSU Denver. The Cowgirls carry a 14-match losing streak into their showdown with the Roadrunners. It was a 3-1 win in NMHU's season opener against Ouachita Baptist that put the Cowgirls at 1-14 overall. They are also 0-4 in RMAC play with losses to CSU Pueblo, Adams State, UCCS, and then #16-ranked Regis. New Mexico Highlands has not won a set since a four-set loss at Fort Hays State on Sept. 8. Individually, Aziza Morris leads NMHU's offense with 99 kills. Jaylee Gonzales has 96 kills as well. Defensively, Abby Carlsen touts 176 digs. Layla Hooks boasts 35 blocks.
 
MINES AGAINST THE COWGIRLS
The Orediggers are 34-28 in the all-time series against New Mexico Highlands. Mines also has a 15-match win streak against the Cowgirls dating back to Sept. 30, 2005. Last season, on Oct. 1, in Las Vegas, N.M., Mines swept NMHU behind Shannon Perna's 13 kills. She hit .400 for the match and added two service aces. The Orediggers' win streak against New Mexico Highlands includes an active run of four consecutive sweeps. Overall, the 15 straight wins include 11 3-0 victories, a quartet of four-setters and zero five-set affairs. The last time Mines dropped a set to the Cowgirls was Sept. 15, 2017, in Las Vegas.
 
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 346-116 (.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 is back on the road after Saturday, opening another four-match road trip starting at South Dakota Mines on Oct. 13. There will be free live stats linked on the Orediggers' homepage and free video on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletic.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.