CHADRON, Neb. – Oredigger libero Jada Price pushed the Mines volleyball team to a 3-1 victory Friday night at Chadron State and clinched a spot in the RMAC tournament in the process.
 
Price produced a career-high 28 digs, averaging an astounding 7.0 digs per set. She also had three assists along the way. Her production in the back row helped Jenna McLaughlin knock down 16 kills on .304 hitting. McLaughlin added two blocks and an ace as well. Fellow middle blocker Morgan McChesney tallied 13 kills and two blocks. Francesca Nuzzo posted an 11-kill, 17-dig double-double on the pin. Other notable performances included Hailee Martinez' 45 assists, and nine kills with eight digs by Naomi Romslo.
 
With the win, Mines (19-6, 9-4 RMAC) improved to 8-2 in its last 10 outings and moved into a tie for fourth in the conference standings with Colorado Mesa. Chadron State (5-21, 1-13 RMAC) saw its season come to an end, having already been eliminated from any postseason opportunities before Friday's match started. The Orediggers escaped Nebraska with a victory by narrow margins in the box score. A one-dig advantage and a 58-42 surplus in kills helped offset the Eagles' 11 blocks and five service aces. Mines hit just .196 as a team, but also limited CSC to a .117 attack percentage. The scores of each set were 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, and 25-14.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set went to the home team, 25-20, after Chadron State hit .244 and limited Mines to a .171 attack percentage thanks to 21 digs. The Orediggers slowly found their footing in the second frame, and managed a 25-19 decision to even the match. McLaughlin pounded out seven kills while Price and Nuzzo combined for 10 digs in the set. Game three was feisty with eight ties and two lead changes – the most in any set of the night. An Eagle service error and a Nuzzo ace helped Mines clinch the 25-23 win. Eight more digs from Price and five McChesney kills canceled out five blocks by CSC and helped the Orediggers to a 2-1 lead. The fourth set was all Mines. There were zero ties and zero lead changes. The visitors hit .368 as a team and held Chadron State to .029 on the attack. McChesney, Romslo, McLaughlin, and Allison Jansen posted a total of 12 error-free kills. Price put the cherry on top of the win with nine more digs.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 46-25 all-time against Chadron State.
- The Orediggers are in the RMAC tournament for the first time since 2022.
- Since 2008, Mines volleyball is 26-1 against the Eagles.
- In addition to Price's career-high in digs, McChesney and McLaughlin both had career highs in total attacks on Friday night.
- Romslo and McLaughlin also had single-match bests in assists.
- Nuzzo's double-double was her fourth as an Oredigger.
- Martinez moved over 500 digs for her NCAA career.
- Nuzzo surpassed 500 collegiate kills and 800 collegiate digs.
- McChesney went over 400 career kills.
- Mines Head Coach Jamie Magalei is now 382-145 in her 18th season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines closes the regular season on Saturday at Regis at 3 p.m. 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.