DURANGO, Colo. – Oredigger sophomore Jenna McLaughlin guided the Mines volleyball team to a 3-1 victory against Fort Lewis Saturday evening in the RMAC Power Pod finale.
 
McLaughlin led all players with 18 kills. She only had one attack error and hit .459 while adding seven total blocks, five digs as a middle blocker, and one service ace. Morgan McChesney also notched double-digit kills, tallying 12 with four total blocks and three digs. Hailee Martinez posted yet another double-double. She had 44 assists and 12 digs. Martinez posted two blocks as well. Naomi Romslo and Avery Perreira added two aces each. Jada Price finished touting 20 digs. Francesca Nuzzo recorded 17 digs, three blocks, and nine kills.
 
Mines (17-5) earned the win by tallying more points, kills, aces, assists, and digs than Fort Lewis (14-7). The Skyhawks matched the Orediggers' 11 blocks. Mines found an additional edge by hitting .199 compared to FLC's .103 attack percentage. The Orediggers and Skyhawks met earlier this season during conference play. Mines won the match in five sets in Durango. Saturday's action didn't count toward the RMAC standings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Orediggers rolled to a 25-20 win in the opening set behind McLaughlin's five error-free kills and two blocks. Fort Lewis earned its lone victory of the evening in the second frame which featured 10 ties and four lead changes. The final margin of 25-23 came despite McLaughlin's four kills and three blocks. Price had nine digs and Perreira had seven digs in the same set. Game three was a 25-19 win for the visitors as McLaughlin rolled out five more kills on .625 hitting. Five digs apiece from Price and Nuzzo helped the effort. Mines closed strong and won the fourth set, 25-14, as McChesney knocked down five kills, McLaughlin went 4-for-4 and Martinez handed out 11 assists with four digs.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 39-26 in the all-time series against Fort Lewis.
- The Orediggers have won two straight matches and 23 of the last 24 when playing the Skyhawks.
- Martinez now owns 20 double-doubles as a collegiate setter with 11 coming in a Mines uniform.
- McLaughlin matched her career high in kills Saturday night and posted a new college best in digs.
- Mines Head Coach Jamie Magalei is now 380-144 in her 18th season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts Black Hills State Friday, Nov. 7, at Lockridge Arena. Free live stats will be available, as well as live video with a subscription to the RMAC Network.
 
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.