GOLDEN, Colo. – The #25-ranked Colorado School of Mines volleyball team defeated Colorado Mesa, 3-0, Thursday evening in the first set of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Power Pod at Lockridge Arena.
Caroline Walden led all players in the match with 13 kills. She added three blocks, one assist, and one dig too.
Jenna McLaughlin produced 12 kills, a .310 hitting percentage, eight total blocks, and one service ace.
Kaiya Gilbert proved effective by way of 35 assists, six blocks, five digs, and four kills.
Francesca Nuzzo played her role in the back row and collected 11 digs. Running mate
Olivia Murillo stacked eight digs as well. Also notable were service aces from
Naomi Romslo and
Sophia Davila, and three blocks apiece for
Abbie O'Shay, and
Cadence McDonald.
Mines (18-3, 8-2 RMAC) handed Colorado Mesa (16-5, 8-2 RMAC) its second consecutive straight-set loss after downing the Mavericks 3-0 in Grand Junction, Colo., last Saturday as part of CMU's homecoming weekend. The victory also pushed the Orediggers' run of 3-0 wins to 11 straight. Those 11 consecutive sweeps and 33 straight set victories both extend program records. Mines worked past a team attack percentage of .240 by blocking the Mavericks 12 times and holding CMU to .115 hitting. The Orediggers also held advantages in points, kills, aces, assists, and digs. Colorado Mesa's potential bright spot was fewer service errors than the home team. Thursday's match did not count in the conference standings, but will factor into potential selection for the NCAA tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening set of the RMAC Power Pod was all Orediggers most of the way. Mines took a 5-1 lead before making it 17-11 and 19-13 later in the match. Colorado Mesa came alive and eventually forced extra points. However, kills by Walden and Romslo clinched the 27-25 win and preserved the streak of set victories. The first set featured six kills by Walden and four error-free kills off the hand of McLaughlin. Mesa actually had a better hitting percentage than Mines, but two service aces and four total blocks kept the home team in the driver's seat.
After the thrilling finish to the first frame, the Mavericks hung around, but never really threatened the Orediggers. Game two went to Mines, 25-18, after Walden and McLaughlin combined for six more kills with the later stacking five blocks. Those blocks contributed to the Orediggers' six-block effort as a team which kept CMU under .000 hitting. Walden and McLaughlin kept control through the final frame and polished off a 25-22 win behind Walden's four kills and McLaughlin's five kills. Colorado Mesa managed four blocks in an attempt to avoid being swept, but it wasn't enough with Murillo grinding out five digs in the back row.
NOTABLES
- Mines now trails Colorado Mesa 48-25-1, but the Orediggers are 6-4 in the last 10 meetings with the Mavericks.
- The last time Mines beat CMU in back-to-back matches was 2021.
- The last time the Orediggers swept the Mavericks in back-to-back meetings was the spring of 2021 (COVID) into the fall of 2021.
- Mines has posted 13 straight-set victories in 2026.
- The Orediggers haven't lost a set since Sept. 18.
- Gilbert surpassed 700 assists and 100 digs for the season on Thursday evening.
- Gilbert also matched her career-high for blocks in a set with six.
- Walden's 13 kills and three blocks were collegiate bests for the true freshman.
- Mines Head Coach
Jamie Magalei is now 402-150 in her 19th season at the helm.
WHAT'S NEXT
Colorado Mesa and Westminster play in Lockridge Arena on Friday at 6 p.m. Mines hosts Westminster on Saturday at 5 p.m.
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.
