GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines volleyball team dropped a five-set decision to South Dakota Mines on Saturday, but still celebrated the Oredigger seniors at Lockridge Arena.
Five sets and extra points yielded a loaded box score.
Francesca Nuzzo's 13-kill, 22-dig double-double, along with six total blocks and one ace, topped the list of highlights.
Morgan McChesney added to the fun with 14 kills on .375 hitting while knocking down six blocks as well.
Jenna McLaughlin matched McChesney's kills total.
Hailee Martinez made it two double-doubles with 38 assists and 12 digs. She notched three kills on five error-free attempts too. Also notable were 22 digs for
Amanda Donais Dudley and 19 digs by
Jada Price.
The Orediggers (18-6, 8-4 RMAC) hit .207 and the Hardrockers (9-14, 6-5 RMAC) hit .130. Seven aces by the visitors offset 11 blocks from the home team. South Dakota's STEM squad had more points, and the Colorado engineers produced more kills. With the loss, the Orediggers fall into a four-way tie for fourth place in the RMAC standings. The win keeps the Hardrockers mathematically alive for a spot in the conference tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A late home rally forced extra points in the first set, but the visitors prevailed, 26-24. McLaughlin led the Orediggers with four kills on .364 hitting. Additionally, Nuzzo notched eight digs, Donais Dudley had six digs, and Romslo posted five digs in the opening frame alone. Five error-free kills off the hand of Nuzzo pushed Colorado School of Mines to a 25-20 victory in the second set. Price churned out six more digs as well. However, the Hardrockers regained the match lead with a 25-16 decision in the third set. The home team evened the match after running away, 25-10, in the fourth set as Nuzzo put down six more kills on .600 hitting. It was only appropriate that extra points decide the five-set nailbiter. In the end, it was South Dakota Mines taking a 16-14 margin to clinch the match.
NOTABLES
- The Orediggers still lead the all-time series against the Hardrockers, 11-7.
- Saturday marked just the third five-set match between Colorado School of Mines and South Dakota Mines.
- Martinez' double-double was her 12th as an Oredigger and the 21st of her college career.
- Donais Dudley's 22 digs were a career-high for the graduate student.
- McLaughlin had a single-match best with six digs Saturday evening, and Romslo did the same with 10 digs.
- McLaughlin also went over 400-career kills.
- Nuzzo, who previously played two seasons at Northeastern Junior College, now touts over 300 digs in an Oredigger uniform.
- Mines' senior class featuring
Morgan McChesney,
Jada Price,
Amanda Donais Dudley,
Kate Kudlac,
Hailee Martinez, and
Allison Jansen was celebrated on court after the match.
- Mines Head Coach
Jamie Magalei is now 381-145 in her 18th season at the helm.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines travels to Chadron State on Friday and Regis on Saturday to close out the regular season. 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.
