COLORADO SPRINGS – Mines freshman Kaiya Gilbert and junior Jenna McLaughlin earned weekly awards from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) after two dominant matches for the Oredigger volleyball team.
 
Gilbert was voted RMAC Setter of the Week and McLaughlin won RMAC Defensive Player of the Week. It marks the third straight setter award for Gilbert and fourth of the season. McLaughlin's honor is her second of the season and third defensive accolade of her career. The recognition follows a pair of 3-0 home wins for Mines against Colorado Christian and CSU Pueblo. Those victories extended the Orediggers' streak of sweeps to six.  
 
In just six sets of action, Gilbert provided 59 assists at 9.83 assists per set, 21 digs at 3.50 digs per set, eight total blocks, seven kills on .500 hitting, and six service aces. Her assists per set and service aces per set ranked #1 in the RMAC for the week. The Castle Rock, Colo., native was also sixth in the conference in blocks per set for the week. Her assists and blocks helped Mines rank #1 in the league in hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage. The Orediggers converted at a .355 clip which ranked fifth in the nation while holding CCU and CSU Pueblo to an attack percentage of .101. Through 16 matches in 2026, Gilbert is 25th in all of NCAA Division II and first in the RMAC in assists per set. She's also 36th in the nation and first in the RMAC in total assists.
 
McLaughlin's resume during Mines' Homecoming Weekend featured 10 blocks at 1.67 blocks per set along with 17 kills on .310 hitting, one service ace, four digs, and one assist. Her 10 blocks were key in the Orediggers holding their opposition to .101 hitting. The Ohio native finished the week ranked second in the league in blocks per set and seventh in points per set. For the season, McLaughlin is first in the RMAC in blocks per set and hitting percentage. She's also third in the RMAC in total blocks. Nationally, the middle blocker ranks eighth in blocks per set and 10th in total blocks.
 
Mines volleyball returns to action this Friday and Saturday as the Orediggers host Western Colorado and Fort Lewis. Friday's match against WCU is at 6 p.m. in Lockridge Arena. Saturday's contest is at 5 p.m. in the same location.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines volleyball on "X" (formerly Twitter) at @MinesVolleyball and on Instagram at @mines.volleyball. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.