Mines (12-11, 5-6 RMAC) at #8 MSU Denver (18-5, 10-1 RMAC) – Denver, Colo. – Wednesday, 6 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (12-11, 5-6 RMAC) vs. Fort Lewis (13-11, 6-6 RMAC) – Lockridge Arena – Friday, 7 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (12-11, 5-6 RMAC) vs. Western Colorado (5-19, 2-10 RMAC) – Lockridge Arena – Saturday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

---

DOWN THE HOME STRETCH
Three matches remain in the 2023 regular season for the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team. The Orediggers start down the home stretch on Wednesday evening at #8 MSU Denver. That match is slated to start at 6 p.m. in Denver. Mines then hosts Fort Lewis on Friday at 7 p.m. and Western Colorado on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Orediggers will need to win at least two of those three matches and have a few other results go their way in order to claim a berth in the 2023 RMAC Volleyball Tourmanent.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS
Fans are encouraged to purchase digital tickets or print tickets at home ahead of this weekend's matches 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
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.
 
PARENT & ALUMNI WEEKEND
This Friday and Saturday, Mines volleyball will celebrate parent and alumni weekend. The Orediggers will welcome parents of current players as well as alumni from all eras of Mines volleyball back to campus for the final two matches of the regular season. Current parents will be recognized before Friday's match against Fort Lewis during the starting lineups. Oredigger volleyball alumni in attendance on Saturday will be recognized on court in between the second and third sets.
 
RECOGNIZING STOKES & STUEWE
In addition to introducing the parents of current players on Friday, Mines volleyball will also recognize two different Orediggers for milestones achieved over the last year. One of the guests of honor is current Mines volleyball player Rose Stuewe who surpassed 1,000 kills for her career earlier this season. The second honoree is Drew Stokes who rewrote the program record book as a setter. She will be recognized for 1,000 digs in her career.
 
SENIOR NIGHT
Saturday evening marks Senior Night for the Mines volleyball program. After the match against Western Colorado, the Orediggers will honor six seniors who will be playing their last collegiate match inside Lockridge Arena. The six honorees include Madison Glassco, Chase Kluna, Emily Knight, Veronique Magnan, Shannon Perna, and Rose Stuewe. Read on for a profile of each Oredigger senior.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Mines was in action last Friday and Saturday with home matches against #12 Regis and UCCS. The Orediggers were swept by the Rangers on Friday despite six service aces including two apiece from Shannon Perna and Presley Powell. Fourteen blocks from RU proved too much for the home team to overcome. Saturday saw Mines defeat the Mountain Lions in three sets. Powell stacked up four more service aces, Emily Knight had 12 kills, and Allison Jansen had eight kills on .467 hitting. Also notable were Madison Glassco's eight kills on .300 hitting with seven digs.
 
RMAC ROUNDUP
This section will address the basic outlook for the 2023 RMAC Volleyball Tournament. The next section will address Mines' possibilities for the postseason. While the regular season title and #1 seed is still very much up in the air, at least five teams have clinched a berth in the conference tournament. As of Tuesday, #8 MSU Denver sits atop the standings. Colorado Mesa and Regis are tied for #2. South Dakota Mines and CSU Pueblo are tied for #3. All five of those teams will be playing in the postseason. On the other end, Adams State, Western Colorado, New Mexico Highlands, and Black Hills State have all been mathematically eliminated from the postseason. That leaves Chadron State, Fort Lewis, Westminster, Colorado Christian, Mines, and UCCS all vying for the last three spots in the bracket.
 
POSTSEASON POSSIBILITIES
Tuesday's standings have Mines alone at #10 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings. That puts the Orediggers on the outside looking in as they head into their final week of regular season play. If Mines goes 3-0 over its last three matches, it is guaranteed a spot in the bracket. However, at the minimum, the Orediggers must win two of its last three matches, and one of those wins must be against Fort Lewis if they want a shot at the postseason. If Mines does go 2-1 with a win against FLC, it will come down to tiebreakers pending other results from around the league. Currently, Chadron State is #6 and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Orediggers. Westminster is tied for #7 and also holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Colorado Christian is #9 and has lost toe Mines three times this season.
 
MEET THE SENIORS
The next six sections will provide a brief profile of each senior being recognized on Saturday evening after the match.
 
MADISON GLASSCO
The outside hitter arrived at Mines in the fall of 2020, just in time for the COVID-19 impacted 2020-21 season. Since then, she has appeared in 33 matches and 102 sets leading to more than 200 kills, over 200 digs, 28 total blocks, 23 assists, and 11 service aces. She was a member of Oredigger teams that won the RMAC tournament in the spring of 2021 and the fall of 2021 while also appearing twice in the NCAA tournament. Glassco earned RMAC Academic Honor Roll distinction in the fall of 2021 and was named to the Cougar Classic All-Tournament this season. She'll finish her time at Mines with a degree in mechanical engineering.
 
CHASE KLUNA
Over the last four seasons, setter Chase Kluna has played a key role in the evaluation, training, and analysis of some of the best Oredigger teams in program history. She arrived in Golden just in time for the COVID-19 impacted season. Over the next three seasons, Kluna appeared in 16 matches and 36 sets in the way to 40 digs and four assists as Mines won two RMAC Tournaments and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Kluna will finish her time at Mines with a degree in engineering physics.
 
EMILY KNIGHT
Emily Knight transferred to Mines in the fall of 2021 after playing at the junior college level for Ridgewater College and NJCAA National Champion Iowa Western Community College. Over the last two seasons, Knight has stacked up 445 kills across 187 sets and 57 matches. She also has accumulated 104 total blocks, 54 digs, 16 assists, and one service aces. She helped the Orediggers win the RMAC Tournament in both 2021 and 2022 which also led to a pair of appearances in the NCAA tournament. The middle blocker arrived at Mines and will finish her time at Mines as a mechanical engineering major.
 
VERONIQUE MAGNAN
Like her classmates, Veronique Magnan arrived in Golden just in time to have her freshman year disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, over the last four years, Magnan has appeared in 50 sets across 23 matches while tallying 64 kills, 23 digs, 21 total blocks, seven service aces, and five assists. The middle blocker was a member of Oredigger teams that won the RMAC tournament in the spring of 2021 and in the fall of 2021. She also helped Mines reach the NCAA Tournament in the fall of 2021 and the fall of 2022. She'll finish her time as an Oredigger with a degree in civil engineering.
 
SHANNON PERNA
Even with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting her freshman year, Perna came to Mines and played all four years of her career for the Orediggers as a right side hitter. During that time, she stacked up 437 kills in 57 matches and 178 sets. Perna also added 281 digs, 69 total blocks, 44 service aces, and 27 assists. Her .682 hitting percentage against UT Tyler on Aug. 27, 2022, still ranked #3 in program history for hitting percentage in a match on 20 or more attempts. The New York native earned RMAC Academic Honor Roll in the fall of 2021 and in 2022. She was also named CSC Academic All-District and brought home the D2 ADA Academic Achievement award in 2022. Perna will graduate from Mines with a degree in engineering physics.
 
ROSE STUEWE
Rose Stuewe arrived at Mines in 2019 by way of Fredericksburg, Texas. In five seasons, including the 2020-21 campaign, Stuewe has totaled 1,199 kills in 411 sets and 122 matches. She also boasts 245 digs, 133 total blocks, 10 assists and seven service aces as an outside hitter. The Texan has been named to seven all-tournament teams, was Honorable Mention All-RMAC in 2019, Second-Team All-RMAC in the fall of 2021, and First-Team All-RMAC in 2022. Her First-Team All-RMAC distinction also led to First-Team All-Region distinction and AVCA Third-Team All-America honors. The Texan was key in three RMAC Tournament titles and three trips to the NCAA tournament including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2019. Stuewe is listed in the program record book twice and has appeared on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll three times. She already has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and is pursuing a master's degree in chemistry.
 
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.
 
SCOUTING MSU DENVER
Metropolitan State University of Denver is currently the #1 team in the RMAC and the #8-ranked team in NCAA Division II thanks to a record of 18-5 (10-1 RMAC). The Roadrunners' only losses this season were to now-#7 Cal State San Bernardino, then-#1 West Texas A&M, now-#13 Lewis, CSU Pueblo, and then-#11 Colorado Mesa. MSU Denver's loss to CSU Pueblo marked its first RMAC loss since the spring of 2021. Overall, the team is #6 in DII in blocks per set, #21 in hitting percentage, and #29 in kills per set. Riley Anderson is the Roadrunners' top offensive threat, touting 304 kills on .258 hitting with 20 service aces. That doesn't account for defending RMAC Player of the Year Rylee Hladky who has 161 kills and 13 service aces. Libero Abbie McCrimmon boasts 326 digs. Ember Canty is tops on the team thanks to 102 total blocks. Mikayla McClinton and Maddy Williams both have more than 70 blocks apiece as well.
 
MINES AGAINST THE ROADRUNNERS
For the Orediggers, the rivalry with MSU Denver is the longest-standing rivalry in program history in terms of matches played. Mines has faced off against the Roadrunners 89 times dating back to 1976. Overall, the Orediggers trail in the all-time series, 21-68. However, Mines is currently 5-5 against MSU Denver over the last 10 meetings. That includes a 3-0 win for the Roadrunners earlier this season at the RMAC pod in Lakewood, Colo. Last season, the Orediggers dropped two matches to the Roadrunners. The regular-season meeting was a five-set heartbreaker in Volk Gym during Mines' homecoming weekend. The second was a four-set loss in the semifinals of the 2022 RMAC Volleyball Tournament. That match featured 19 kills from Rose Stuewe on .350 hitting. In 2021, the Orediggers and Roadrunners played three times. Two of those were five-set, postseason showdowns. Mines took the first to win the RMAC Tournament. MSU Denver, won the second to end the Orediggers' season. Friday marks the first of two scheduled meetings between Mines and the Roadrunners in 2023.
 
SCOUTING FORT LEWIS
At 13-11 overall and 6-6 in RMAC play, Fort Lewis is on pace for its best season since 2010. The Skyhawks come to Golden riding a four-match win streak including victories against UCCS, South Dakota Mines Adams State, and CSU Pueblo. Their .500 record in conference play has them on the precipice of advancing to the RMAC Tournament. Fort Lewis is led by back-to-back RMAC Setter of the Week Natalia Lambos. So far this season, the junior has averaged nearly 10.00 assists per set while adding 186 digs, 49 kills, 36 total blocks, and 13 service aces. Her favorite target on the attack is Alexis Hobie who boasts 266 kills with 20 aces, 125 digs, and 21 total blocks. Libero Sarah Wilkey has 362 digs. Ella Butler owns 68 total blocks along with 191 kills on .306 hitting.
 
MINES AGAINST THE SKYHAWKS
The Orediggers are 36-35 in the all-time series against Fort Lewis including 20 straight wins. Mines and FLC met once in 2022. It was a 3-0 win for the Orediggers in Golden.  Shannon Perna knocked down 15 kills and Emily Knight had 10 kills. Mines hasn't lost to the Skyhawks since 2007. That match was a 3-0 win for the Skyhawks in Golden.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN COLORADO
Western Colorado will face #8 MSU Denver on Friday before coming to Golden on Saturday. The Mountaineers are 5-19 overall with a 2-10 mark in RMAC play. They have been mathematically eliminated from the postseason. Western Colorado's wins in 2023 came against Eastern New Mexico, West Alabama, Black Hills State, and New Mexico Highlands. The Mountaineers are currently riding a three-match losing streak. Their top hitter is Maggie Olson who has 264 kills. Seyun Park also boasts 242 kills on .316 hitting. Nur Turkmenoglu has 33 service aces as well as 769 assists. Elizabeth Rupprecht has ground out 311 digs. Park also touts 43 total blocks.
 
MINES AGAINST THE MOUNTAINEERS
Colorado School of Mines Volleyball is 38-36-1 in the all-time series against Western Colorado. The Orediggers have won 11 straight matches over the Mountaineers. The teams met twice in 2022. One match was part of the Oredigger Volleyball classic in Golden, where Mines swept WCU thanks to Emily Knights 11 kills on .444 hitting with three total blocks. In RMAC action, the Orediggers took a 3-1 win off the Mountaineers in Golden after Rose Stuewe dismantled WCU to the tune of 16 kills, three blocks and four digs. Maddison Glassco and Shannon Perna combined for 24 kills in that match. Mines hasn't lost to Western Colorado since 2015. The Orediggers haven't lost to the Mountaineers in Golden, Colo., since 2002.
 
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 351-120 (.745). 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
The results from this week determine whether Mines' season continues or comes to a close. If the Orediggers advance to the RMAC Tournament, they'll play a quarterfinal match on the night of Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the higher seed's campus.
 
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.