Mines (6-12, 3-5 RMAC) vs. CSU Pueblo (12-6, 6-2 RMAC) – Lockridge Arena – Friday, 7 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
Mines (6-12, 3-5 RMAC) vs. Adams State (6-14, 2-6 RMAC) – Lockridge Arena – Saturday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]

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END OF THE HOMESTAND
The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team has played seven of its last eight matches at home. This weekend, the numbers become nine of their last 10 matches as the Orediggers close out their regular-season home slate. They'll host CSU Pueblo on Friday at 7 p.m. and Adams State on Saturday at 5 p.m. The weekend also includes Parent Night, Senior Night, and a Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. Details on everything can be found below.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS
Fans are encouraged to purchase digital tickets or print tickets at home ahead of each match by going to www.minesathletics.com/tickets. That being said, tickets can be purchased at the door. Adults are $10, children, seniors, and military are $5. Mines faculty, staff, and students get in free with their Blaster Card. Additionally, children age 11 and under are free.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Both matches will be streamed live and for free on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. Additionally, Miles Dunklin will provide play-by-play commentary for Saturday's match. There will also be free live stats for each match linked on the Orediggers' schedule page at www.minesathletics.com.
 
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Mines Athletics is doing its part by raising funds and awareness for Hana's Hope. The entire final weekend of October will feature a push at all home Oredigger events to raise funds for the non-profit based in Littleton. Hana's Hope is a non-profit that assists individuals coping with hair loss due to chemotherapy, radiation, alopecia, and other conditions by providing free consultation, custom-styled wigs, wig/head accessories, and skincare devices to those facing financial hardship. Donation opportunities will be available throughout the weekend. More information about Hana's Hope can be found here.
 
PARENT NIGHT
Friday's match against CSU Pueblo marks Parent Night for the Mines volleyball team. Parents and families of players have been invited to attend the match, and will be recognized on the court during starting lineups. The evening and weekend is intended to show appreciation for those who drive their daughters to practice and provide support to their endeavors in so many ways.
 
SENIOR NIGHT
Saturday, as has become tradition on the last home date of the regular season, will be Senior Night. The three seniors concluding their collegiate playing careers will be honored on the court following the match. Fans, friends, and family are encourage to remain in the stands after the final point as Mines recognizes Hannah Kinnison, Emma Smithey, and Hope Storm. A brief profile on each senior can be found below.
 
HANNAH KINNISON
Kinnison transferred to Colorado School of Mines this fall to pursue her master's degree in engineering & technology management and also for her final season of collegiate volleyball. She arrived in Golden by way of Angelo State and the University of San Francisco. In her career to date, the Sligo, Colo., native has totaled 926 kills, 659 digs, 140 total blocks, 56 assists, and 27 service aces. Along the way, Kinnison was named AVCA Honorable Mention All-America, AVCA All-Region, D2CCA All-Region, the Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the Year, First-Team All-LSC, NCAA South Central Region All-Tournament, and CSC Academic All-District – among other numerous accolades.
 
EMMA SMITHEY
Smithey has been a member of Oredigger volleyball for the last four seasons. Her career so far includes 49 kills, 24 digs, nine total blocks, and two assists. She was a member of the squad that won the 2021 RMAC Volleyball Tournament which was a five-set victory over then #1-ranked MSU Denver. Smithey was also a member of two NCAA tournament teams and played in the 2022 national postseason against eventual national champion West Texas A&M. In the best match of her collegiate career, the Texan hammered down 11 kills on .455 hitting at South Dakota Mines on Sept. 16, 2022, while adding two total blocks and nine digs. Smithey will graduate from Ines with a degree in mechanical engineering.
 
HOPE STORM
Storm came to Mines in the fall of 2021 and provided four seasons to the Orediggers. She spent two years learning under one of Mines' all-time great setters. She gave two more seasons mentoring the future of Oredigger setters. After biding her time as the consummate team player, Storm finally made her collegiate debut earlier this season in spectacular fashion. The very first match of her career resulted in a 43-assist, 18-dig double-double against South Dakota Mines. Storm added three kills on .375 hitting and three total blocks as well. Now, with three matches under her belt, the Colorado Springs native touts over 100 assists, 28 digs, four total blocks, and five kills. Storm's work in the classroom also led to two appearances on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll. She'll graduate from Mines with a degree in mechanical engineering.
 
WHAT REMAINS
As stated above, this weekend marks the final home matches of the regular season for the Orediggers. What remains for Mines are eight matches including two non-conference showdowns as part of the 2024 RMAC Power Pod which will take place next Thursday and Friday at Colorado Christian. The Orediggers also travel to Regis and UCCS Nov. 8-9. They'll close the regular season at Fort Lewis and Western Colorado Nov. 15-16. Currently 10th in the RMAC standings, Mines has some ground to make up in order to advance to the postseason. Eight teams advance to the conference tournament which means the Orediggers need at least a winning record in their final eight conference matches to have a shot.
 
NEW RULES
Collegiate volleyball implemented multiple changes to the rules for the 2024 season. Two of the changes will be most noticeable to fans. Teams are now allowed to designate two liberos for each set, if they so choose. Liberos are defensive players who play only in the back row, have rules against leaving the ground to attack, and substitute differently than other players. While teams can designate two liberos, only one of designees can be in the match at any given time. The change opens options for strategy in service and serve receive. The second notable change applies to the setters. Previously, setters, and other players, had to make sure both hands hit the ball at the same time or be called for a double touch (ball handling error). Now, the setter, and other players, can double touch as long as the set does not go over the net.
 
MAGALEI HONORED BY ALMA MATER
Colorado School of Mines Volleyball Head Coach Jamie Magalei has accumulated numerous accolades during her 17 seasons at the helm. This fall, she's added another honor to her resume. The University of North Dakota, where Magalei played as Jamie Skadeland from 2001-04, announced the Mines head lady as the 2024 recipient of the school's Tom Clifford Award. The Clifford Award, established to honor former UND President Thomas J. Clifford, recognizes the UND alum who serves as an athletics coach at the high school or collegiate level and has been notable successful in their sport. With over 350 career wins at Mines, Magalei has certainly displayed notable success as she ranks top-25 among active coaches in NCAA Division II. She was an exceptional player as well, still ranking eighth all-time at UND in career assists (2,791), fourth all-time in single-season assists (1,417), and is one of only 20 individuals to post 1,000 digs in program history. Magalei also helped North Dakota reach the national tournament in 2002 and 2003 – the first appearances in program history.
 
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
So far in 2024, Mines has used 17 Orediggers in match action. Of those 17 student-athletes, eight are true freshmen and nine had never played in a NCAA volleyball match prior to this season. Taylor Helms and Jenna McLaughlin are fueling the youth movement. Helms has 158 kills and 39 total blocks, both ranking second on the team. McLaughlin boasts 106 kills and 58 total blocks. In the back row, Avery Perreira and Olivia Murillo have combined for 273 digs. That duo also boasts a total of 18 service aces. Furthermore, Brinleigh Davis has seen significant time at setter and dished out 304 assists with 60 digs, 19 total blocks, nine kills and two aces. Additional contributions to the explosion of Oredigger youth have come from Ava Swan, Layla Padgett, and Emma Dunwoody.
 
LOOKING BACK
Mines hosted three matches in the span of five days. The Orediggers' started their final homestand last Friday against South Dakota Mines. The result was a heartbreaking, five-set loss despite a near triple-double from Hannah Kinnison and Hope Storm's double-double debut. Kinnison tallied 16 kills, 17 digs, and nine total blocks. Storm put up 43 assists, 18 digs, three kills, and three total blocks. Additionally, Kate Kudlac added 14 kills and Helms tallied 12 kills. Mines bounced back on Saturday by sweeping Black Hills State. Kinnison provided 15 more kills on .577 hitting. Morgan McChesney knocked down four total blocks. Olivia Murillo capped the win with 13 digs and four service aces. This past Tuesday brought a tough matchup against #1 MSU Denver. The Orediggers fell to the top-ranked Roadrunners in straight sets. Helms' 10 kills were the highlight of the match for the home team.
 
SCOUTING CSU PUEBLO
Colorado State University Pueblo started its 2024 campaign 4-0. The ThunderWolves also opened conference play with a 4-0 record. However, "The Pack" has lost three of their last five matches to drop to 12-6 (6-2 RMAC). Even so, CSU Pueblo is tied for third in the conference standings. Last weekend included a pair of home matches for the ThunderWolves. They downed Chadron State in four sets on Friday and swept Colorado Christian on Saturday. Individual leaders for CSU Pueblo include Sadie Scoville, Hallie Hewlett, and Macy Wood. Scoville is tops on the team with 192 kills, 25 service aces, and 156 digs. Hewlett has dished out 331 assists and tallied 24 service aces. Wood owns 41 total blocks. Josey Nunn is right behind with 36 total blocks.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE THUNDERWOLVES
Mines trails CSU Pueblo in the all-time series by a margin of 34-44. The ThunderWolves have won the last two matches against the Orediggers. That being said, Mines did win 10 straight from 2012-19. Last season, the Orediggers and "The Pack" played twice in a span of eight days. CSU Pueblo won in four sets at home and then swept Mines at Lockridge Arena. That last match saw Meghan Slaninka and Allison Jansen combine for five service aces. The last time the Orediggers defeated the ThunderWolves was during the 2022 RMAC Volleyball Tournament. Mines outlasted CSU Pueblo in five sets in the quarterfinal round. Current Orediggers who appeared in that match were Morgan McChesney, Emma Smithey, and Jada Price.
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
Adams State takes on #1 MSU Denver on Friday in Denver before coming to Golden on Saturday. Wins have been few and far between for the Grizzlies who are sitting 6-14, 3-6 RMAC. They lost 10 of their first 12 matches before downing Black Hills State in five sets to get their first RMAC win of 2024. That being said, Adams State is just percentage points behind Mines in the RMAC standings and only a few wins out of a potential RMAC tournament berth. Overall, ASU has played four five-set matches and had contests finish in straight sets nine times. This past week, Adams State hosted Chadron State on Saturday and swept the Eagles. The Grizzlies traveled to Fort Lewis on Tuesday and toppled the Skyhawks in four sets. Anna Huggins is the preferred target for ASU's passers. She has 241 kills on 706 attempts. Cindy Garcia is second on the team with 184 kills. Remi Vargas leads the team with 320 assists. Sierra Leone Sanchez appears to be the top active player in digs with 212. Three different Grizzlies boast more than 200 digs on the season. Katie Bauer touts 55 total blocks.
 
MINES AGAINST THE GRIZZLIES
The Orediggers hold a 35-34 edge in the all-time series against Adams State thanks to 14 straight wins over the Grizzlies. Mines hasn't lost to Adams State in volleyball since Nov. 22, 2013. Last season, the two teams met just once and the Orediggers swept the Grizzlies in Alamosa, Colo. Notable in that match was Naomi Romslo producing eight kills on .429 hitting and Presley Powell handing out 44 assists. Renata Bolado Corona notched 13 digs and three service aces. Mines' active, 14-match run against ASU includes nine sweeps, three four-setters, and a pair of five-set thrillers.
 
AT THE HELM
Head Coach Jamie Magalei is in her 17th season leading the Mines volleyball program in 2024. She is easily the program's all-time leader in total wins and win percentage at 360-134 (.728). Entering the 2024 season, 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 winning percentage entering 2024 ranked 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 2023, Magalei has coached 31 all-America selections, three Academic All-Americans, and 65 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 from 2009-22 (no NCAA tournament in 2020). 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.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
The current coaching staff for Mines volleyball includes three program alum. Grace Bol (2008-12), Elle Duis (2018-22), and Drew Fuhr (née Stokes) (2018-22) all played for Head Coach Jamie Magalei. Overall, the trio appears in the program record book 35 times including Fuhr as the all-time assists leader and Duis as the all-time digs queen. The efforts of Bol, Duis, and Fuhr during their respective tenures contributed to regular-season conference titles in 2012 and 2018, RMAC Volleyball Tournament titles in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and NCAA tournament appearances in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. The duo of Duis and Fuhr also helped Mines reach the Sweet 16 for the first, and only, time in program history in 2019.
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers are headed to Colorado Christian for the 2024 RMAC Power Pod. They'll face CCU on Thursday, at 5 p.m. and play Westminster in Lakewood on Friday at 7 p.m. The matches do not count toward the RMAC standings. Free live video on the RMAC Network and live stats of both matches will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines volleyball on "X" (formerly 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, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.