GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team took down #14-ranked Grand Valley State and improved to 4-0 on Saturday evening in a five-set thriller as the 2025 Oredigger Volleyball Classic presented by Marriott Denver West came to a close.
 
The victory was fueled by Amanda Donais Dudley's 15-kill, 13-dig double-double. Donais Dudley also added two blocks, but she was not the only Oredigger star. Jenna McLaughlin came up big with nine kills, four blocks, four digs and two service aces. Naomi Romslo walked away touting eight kills, four blocks, five digs and one service ace. Hailee Martinez played conductor with a 40-assist, 11-dig double-double while adding a service ace. On defense, Abbie O'Shay knocked down six total blocks and Jada Price posted 17 digs, underscored by two service aces. Other numbers weren't eye-popping but proved key in the win. At the top of the list was Cadence McDonald with one huge kill and one giant block off the bench. Allison Jansen also came off the bench and went 1-for-1 on the attack. Additional service aces came from Francesca Nuzzo and Tori Garrett.
 
Mines (4-0) handed Grand Valley State (3-1) its first loss of the 2025 campaign. Eight service aces for the Orediggers seemed to be the key on paper. The Lakers finished with more points, more kills, more blocks, more assists, and more digs than the home team. However, Mines earned an 8-5 advantage at the service line. The victory was the Orediggers' first over a ranked opponent since the 2022 season. Additionally, participating coaches voted on an all-tournament team but could not vote for their own players. The Most Valuable Player was Meghan O'Sullivan from Grand Valley State. Brianna Stawski (Grand Valley State), Alex Dvorak (Washburn), Connelly Kilgore (Colorado Christian), Abby Alan (Davenport), Keilah Rivers (Washburn), Kendall Stover (Grand Valley State), Brynne Topolski (Washburn), and Jada Price of Mines made up the rest of the team.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saturday's finale was Mines' first match of the day after playing on Thursday. Meanwhile, Grand Valley State had gone four sets against South Dakota Mines in the 12 p.m. match. The difference in rest was apparent through the first two sets as the Orediggers dominated the Lakers. Donais Dudley posted four kills, Martinez handed out 13 assists, and the home team combined for four total blocks to produce a 25-20 win in set one. Game two included outstanding serving from McLaughlin and a surgical attack from Donais Dudley. McLaughlin served out an 8-0 run. Donais Dudley put the ball wherever she wanted, and at one point grazed the fingertip of a GVSU player for a kill. Accident? Oredigger fans think not. Key in the set was a running save by Nuzzo in the back row. The final score of the second frame was 25-21, putting Mines on the precipice of a sweep. But nothing comes easy against a ranked team.
 
Grand Valley State found its footing and asserted its own dominance in the third and fourth games. Scores of 25-15 and 25-13 forced a fifth frame. The lopsided scores also afforded the visitors the momentum – or so it appeared.
 
It was only appropriate that the first, and only, five-set match of the 2025 Oredigger Volleyball Classic presented by Marriott Denver West was a back-and-forth affair. The Lakers claimed a 3-1 lead. Mines answered back and tied the score at 6-6. When GVSU hopped to a 7-6 advantage, Oredigger Head Coach Jamie Magalei called a timeout. After the break, substitutions were made. McDonald and Brinleigh Davis entered the match in place of Donais and Martinez. The result was brilliant for the home team. McDonald started with a block and tied the game at seven. She later hammered down a kill to keep Mines within one point at 8-9. Martinez and Donais Dudley reentered the match as part of a newly formed, 6-2 rotation. While GVSU kept pace, the momentum had shifted. A 14-14 tie led to a Romslo kill. Romslo and O'Shay added the exclamation point, teaming up for a block on the weekend's MVP for the winning point.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 4-0 for the first time since 2018.
- Mines improved to 2-0 against Grand Valley State. The other win also took five sets during the 2021 Oredigger Classic.
- The Oreidiggers are 61-20 in their own invitational. Mines is also 55-14 in the invite under Head Coach Jamie Magalei.
- Since 2014, Mines is 33-10 at the Oredigger Classic.
- Donais Dudley has started her collegiate encore with four consecutive double-doubles. That brings the graduate student to 21 in her Oredigger career.
- Martinez now touts two double-doubles in an Oredigger uniform.
- Weekend rankings had Martinez #2 in assists per set, Garrett #5 in service aces per set, McLaughlin #1 in total blocks and #3 in blocks per set, Donais Dudley #5 in digs per set and #4 in points per set.
- McLaughlin recorded the first multi-ace match of her career Saturday and also touts exactly 100 collegiate blocks.
- Jansen's appearance on Saturday was her first of the 2025 season.
- Head Coach Jamie Magalei is now 368-139 in her 18th season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines heads to Idaho next week to compete at Northwest Nazarene's tournament in Nampa. A full preview and live coverage information will be available next week 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 follow all of Mines Athletics year around on Facebook, "X", and Instagram at @MinesAthletics.