Mines (13-3, 4-2 RMAC) vs. Western Colorado (7-10, 2-5 RMAC) – Lockridge Arena – Friday, 6 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (13-3, 4-2 RMAC) vs. Fort Lewis (10-7, 4-3 RMAC) – Lockridge Arena – Saturday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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HOME STAND CONTINUES
Mines volleyball will continue enjoying the comforts of home for one more weekend with Western Colorado and Fort Lewis coming to town for a pair of matches. The Orediggers put their six-match win streak on the line Friday against the Mountaineers at 6 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. Action continues Saturday against Fort Lewis at 5 p.m. in the same location. It marks the end of a five-match home stand for Mines which has featured five straight-set victories.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS
Fans are encouraged to purchase digital tickets or print tickets at home ahead of time by going to www.minesathletics.com/tickets. Adults are $10. Children, seniors, and military are $5. Mines faculty, staff, and students receive complimentary admission and can obtain tickets by logging in at tickets.minesathletics.com with their Mines single sign-on. Additionally, children age 11 and under are free.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Both matches this weekend will stream exclusively on the RMAC Network (pay-per-view). There will also be free live statistics which are linked above. Alex Becker will provide play-by-play commentary for Friday's match with Noah Syverson on the call Saturday.
 
RMAC NETWORK
The RMAC Network continues to have a pay-per-view model for all events. Fans can purchase monthly and annual subscriptions that will provide them access to all regular-season, championship, and archived broadcasts on the RMAC Network. A monthly subscription costs $25, and an annual subscription costs $130. Single-game passes are available for $12.50, which grants access to a single game for 24 hours. For technical support questions, fans can contact Hudl Support or email the RMAC directly (rmac@rmacsports.org). For further support, fans can visit the RMAC Network Help page.
 
RMAC SETTER OF THE WEEK
Monday saw Mines true freshman Kaiya Gilbert win RMAC Setter of the Week for a third straight week. Gilbert claimed her fourth weekly award of the season after providing 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.
 
RMAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Oredigger middle blocker Jenna McLaughlin was voted RMAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday as well. The junior's Homecoming resume 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.
 
EXTREMELY EFFICIENT
As referenced above, last week Mines converted a .355 hitting percentage on offense. That number ranked the Orediggers #4 in all of NCAA Division II for the week of Sept. 28 – Oct. 4. Mines' 15.83 kills per set also ranked #5 in the country during that span. Individually, Kaiya Gilbert was #12 in the nation in service aces per set, Abbie O'Shay was #9 nationally with her .567 attack percentage, and Jenna Mclaughlin ranks #14 in blocks per set.
 
SWEEP STREAK
Mines has now won six straight matches without dropping a single set. The run of sweeps started at New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 18, and continued against Adams State, Colorado Christian, MSU Denver, Colorado Christian again, and CSU Pueblo. During the run, Jenna McLaughlin has been deadly on offense and defense with 51 kills, a .362 hitting percentage, and 27 blocks at 1.50 blocks per set. Cadence McDonald and Abbie O'Shay have both produced 49 kills each with O'Shay hitting .398. Kaiya Gilbert has been surgical as well by way of 10.39 assists per set, 11 service aces, 51 digs, and 16 total blocks. Francesca Nuzzo anchored the back row with 82 digs in 18 sets of action.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
For a second consecutive week, Mines received votes in the AVCA-Taraflex Division II Poll put together by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA). The Orediggers have yet to crack the top 25 in 2026, but they are equivalent to #28 with 23 votes in the latest poll. No Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference programs currently appear in the top 25. Colorado Mesa and MSU Denver are both receiving votes as well. Angelo State is the only ranked team in the South Central region at #7 in the nation. Other regional teams receiving votes include UT Tyler and Dallas Baptist.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN COLORADO
Western Colorado was swept by Fort Lewis on Tuesday which dropped WCU to 7-10 (2-5 RMAC). Despite their losing record, the Mountaineers posted a strong start to the 2026 season, going 4-0 at their own tournament before dropping four straight at the Hawaii Challenge in Honolulu. Western Colorado claimed RMAC wins against Black Hills State and Regis. League losses have come at the hands of South Dakota Mines, Chadron State, Colorado Mesa, Westminster, and now Fort Lewis. Sierra Long, Andrea Torres, and Maggie Legg all boast more than 100 kills this season. Legg also touts 14 service aces. Defensively, Galatia Andrew averages 4.36 digs per set and Kyra Kidd has 44.0 total blocks. The Mountaineers' team hitting percentage is only .189, but opponents hit just .185 when facing WCU so far this season.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE MOUNTAINEERS
The all-time series between Mines and Western Colorado sits at 40-37-1 in favor of the Orediggers. Mines took the lead in the rivalry by winning 12 consecutive matches from 2015-23. The Mountaineers snapped that skid with a 3-1 win in Gunnison in 2024. Mines and WCU haven't played in Golden since 2023. That match was a straight-set victory for the home team. The last meeting between the Orediggers and Mountaineers was last season on Oct. 18 in Gunnison. Mines swept WCU thanks to Abbie O'Shay's 13 kills on .571 hitting. Naomi Romslo notched two service aces and Jenna McLaughlin recorded three total blocks. Four different Orediggers had double-digit digs. Mines hasn't lost to Western Colorado in Golden since 2002.
 
SCOUTING FORT LEWIS
Fort Lewis improved to 10-7 (4-3 RMAC) after sweeping Western Colorado on Tuesday in Gunnison. Similar to the Mountaineers, the Skyhawks had mix results during non-conference play. They went 1-3 at Angelo State and then 4-0 in Pueblo. Conference play started with back-to-back losses at Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines. Then, Fort Lewis downed Chadron State, Regis, and Westminster. Last weekend, FLC dropped a 3-1 decision at Colorado Mesa. Team success has been fueled by Alina Nunez and her 207 kills on .271 hitting. Caroline Munson also boasts 107 kills with a .329 attack percentage. Alyx Daugherty has generated 23 aces from the service line and Ellie Ames is right behind her with 21. Notable on defense are Daugherty's 5.22 digs per set which rank #15 in the nation. At the net, Ames leads FLC with 35.0 total blocks. The Skyhawks hit .197 on offense while opposing teams convert at a .201 clip.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE SKYHAWKS
Mines holds a narrow, 39-36 advantage over Fort Lewis in volleyball. That margin was bolstered by 21 straight wins between 2008-23. The Skyhawks broke the Orediggers' run with a 3-1 win in Durango in 2024. Last season, Mines defeated FLC in four sets – also in Durango. The Orediggers and Skyhawks haven't played in Golden since 2023 when Mines swept Fort Lewis. Last season, the Orediggers took a 3-1 road win from the Skyhawks after Jenna McLaughlin torched the home team for 18 kills on .459 hitting while adding seven total blocks. The last time Fort Lewis beat Mines in Golden was 2007.
 
HOMECOMING RECAP
The Orediggers hosted Colorado Christian and CSU Pueblo over Homecoming Weekend. Friday's match against the Cougars lasted just one hour and 15 minutes. Naomi Romslo led all players with 11 kills while hitting .333. Abbie O'Shay and Cadence McDonald chipped in nine kills each. Kaiya Gilbert dissected CCU with 30 assists, 13 digs, four aces, three blocks, and three kills. Mines posted a team attack percentage of .375 and limited the Cougars to .089 hitting. Saturday's match against the ThunderWolves was slightly longer, running 1:23. Mines overcame CSU Pueblo's high-level blocks and hit .337. O'Shay fronted the charge with 10 kills at a .529 clip. Gilbert went for 29 more assists, eight digs, five blocks, four error-free kills, and two aces.
 
AT THE HELM
The 2026 season marks the 19th with Jamie Magalei at the helm for Mines volleyball. She's the program's all-time leader in total wins (397-150) and win percentage (.726) by a large margin. Magalei is also the longest-tenured and winningest head coach among current RMAC skippers. Furthermore, the North Dakota native entered the 2026 season ranked 18th in winning percentage and 38th in total wins among active DII head coaches. She surpassed 300 career wins in 2021. She's one of six to reach the milestone while coaching in the RMAC. Through the 2025 season, Magalei has coached 32 all-America selections, three CSC Academic All-Americans, and 72 all-conference performers. Her resume also includes three Regional Players of the Year, two Regional Freshmen of the Year, and 16 RMAC major award winners. Magalei has guided Mines to six RMAC regular-season championships, and five RMAC Tournament titles with 13 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 2009-22 (no NCAA tournament in 2020) and 14 overall. She also guided the Orediggers to either a conference regular-season or tournament title every season from 2012-21 including a sweep of both in 2015.
 
MAGALEI LEADS THE RMAC
As referenced above, Mines Head Coach Jamie Magalei is the longest-tenured and winningest head coach among current RMAC skippers. At 397-150 (.726) overall, she's nearly 200 wins ahead of Grayson DuBose at Black Hills State who is just in his second season at BHSU but his 16th overall. Magalei's also nearly 200 wins ahead of Colorado Christian's Bobby Blanken who entered his 10th season at CCU with 192 victories. Regis' Joel List is also entering his 10th season at Regis which ties him and Blanken for the second-longest tenure in the RMAC among active head coaches.
 
UP NEXT
Mines heads west to face Westminster and Colorado Mesa next weekend.
 
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.