LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team dropped a five-set heartbreaker to New Mexico Highlands on Friday night inside the John A. Wilson Complex at NMHU.
 
Despite the loss, Taylor Helms led all players with 21 kills. She hit .419 as well with two total blocks and three digs. Also notable on offense for Mines (5-10, 2-3 RMAC) were nine kills and a .533 attack percentage from Jenna McLaughlin. Defensively, Hannah Kinnison, Jada Price, Olivia Murillo and Brinleigh Davis notched double-digit digs. Davis collected the first double-double of her collegiate career after handing out 40 assists as well. Morgan McChesney tallied three total blocks. On the flip side, New Mexico Highlands (4-11, 2-4 RMAC) rode 12 kills, 10 digs, three aces, and a block from Meg Pfannerstill to the win. The Orediggers had more kills, more assists, a higher attack percentage, more digs, the same number of blocks, but zero aces compared to NMHU.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines edged New Mexico Highlands in the opening set, 25-20, thanks to four kills off the hand of Brianna Binder and three kills from Helms. A vintage Oredigger performance in the second set saw the visitors run away to a 25-11 win. Helms accounted for seven of Mines' 13 kills while hitting .583 in the frame. Game three ended with NMHU riding a 9-0 run after the Orediggers led by a score of 20-16. Even so, Helms notched four more kills on .800 hitting with three error-free kills from McLaughlin. The Cowgirls ran off six straight points in the fourth set to force extra points. Four more kills from Helms weren't enough to keep NMHU from a 26-24 win, forcing a decisive fifth set. Four straight points by the Cowgirls in the final game put Mines in an insurmountable hole. New Mexico Highlands clinched its first win over Mines since 2004, 15-11.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines still owns a 35-29 advantage in the all-time series against New Mexico Highlands.
- Friday marked the first five-set match between the Orediggers and NMHU since 1997.
- The Cowgirls' win was their first against Mines in Las Vegas since 2004.
- Helms' 21 kills were a collegiate high for the true freshman.
- McLaughlin surpassed 100 career kills on Friday.
- Head Coach Jamie Magalei is now 359-132 in her 17th season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers host South Dakota Mines on Friday, Oct. 18, at Lockridge Arena. Free live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be available.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines volleyball on "X" (formerly Twitter) at @minesvolleyball and on Instagram at @mines.volleyball. They can also follow all of Mines Athletics year around on Facebook, "X", and Instagram at @MinesAthletics.