Aug. 27-29 – Lockridge Arena – Golden, Colo. – Tournament Central
Mines (0-0) vs. Cal Poly Humboldt (0-0) – Thursday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (0-0) vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (0-0) – Friday, 12 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (0-0) vs. Flagler (0-0) – Friday, 4:30 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (0-0) vs. Rockhurst (0-0) – Saturday, 3:30 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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ANOTHER OREDIGGER CLASSIC
The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team opens its 2026 season this Thursday, hosting the 21st Oredigger Volleyball Classic at Lockridge Arena. The invitational is presented again by Marriott Denver West. Mines plays Cal Poly Humboldt at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Then, on Friday, the Orediggers host Cal State Dominguez Hills at 12 p.m. and Flagler at 4:30 p.m. Mines plays Rockhurst in Saturday's finale at 3:30 p.m. as well. Overall, the Oredigger Volleyball Classic features eight teams playing a total of 15 matches on two courts inside Lockridge Arena.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
All 15 matches will stream exclusively on the RMAC Network (pay-per-view). Kienan Dixon and Alex Becker will take turns providing play-by-play commentary for the matches featuring the Orediggers. All 15 contests will also have live statistics (linked above) and on the Tournament Central page.
 
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.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS
Fans are encouraged to purchase digital tickets or print tickets at home ahead of the tournament by going to www.minesathletics.com/tickets. Adults are $10 for the entire day. Children, seniors, and military are $5 for the day. 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.
 
PARKING
It's important to note that the Diamond Lot (Lot D at 1651 Elm Street) will be closed all day Friday for Celebration of Mines. Fans on Friday can still park in the Maple Street Parking Garage (1400 Maple Street) and will need to pay for parking before 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Parking is free all day Saturday, but will be impacted by Mines football hosting Western Oregon at home.
 
THE FORMAT
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mark the 21st edition of the Oredigger Volleyball Classic. Once again, the event is sponsored by Marriott Denver West. The 2026 edition features a total of eight teams including Mines. Action begins Thursday evening with three total matches inside Lockridge Arena with start times at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday brings more double-barrel action with two courts rolling inside The Lock. Match times are 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. The 2 p.m. slot does not have a match on the second court. Saturday includes simultaneous courts to start the day at 9:30 a.m. before paring down to one court with action at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Matches may begin late, but will not run ahead for any reason.
 
ATTENDING TEAMS
Seven other teams will be guests of the Orediggers for three straight days. Those teams are Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Colorado Christian, Flagler, Northern State, UCCS, and Rockhurst. Northern State, UCCS, and Rockhurst are all receiving votes in the AVCA-Taraflex Division II Preseason Poll. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference will be well represented with three teams in the field including Mines, Colorado Christian, and UCCS. Cal Poly Humboldt and Cal State Dominguez Hills both represent the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Flagler hails from the Peach Belt Conference (PBC), while Northern State and Rockhurst claim the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), respectively.
 
MINES' SLATE
As mentioned above, the Orediggers start their annual invite against Cal Poly Humboldt on Thursday at 5 p.m. Mines faces Cal State Dominguez Hills and Flagler on Friday at 12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively. Rockhurst marks the opponent for the weekend finale at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Combined, Mines' four opponents posted a 2025 record of 56-62. Specifically, Flagler went 22-13 with a 12-3 mark in PBC play which tied the Saints for #1 in the league. They eventually won the PBC Tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Also notable is Rockhurst which posted a 22-11 (11-2 GLVC) mark, good enough for #2 in the league. The Hawks also played their way into the second round of the NCAA tournament. On the other side, Cal Poly Humboldt and Cal State Dominguez Hills had down years, combining for just 12 total wins, and failing to make the postseason.
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Including Mines, this weekend's field features four teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament last season including the Orediggers, Flagler, UCCS, and Rockhurst. The combined 2025 record of all eight teams coming to Golden this weekend was 134-98. Flagler and UCCS were both co-conference champions last year. Northern State made the postseason in the highly touted NSIC but didn't advance to the NCAA bracket. Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and Colorado Christian all missed the postseason completely. Mines, Flagler, UCCS, and Rockhurst all surpassed 20 wins in 2025 with the Mountain Lions boasting the best record at 26-4.
 
OREDIGGER CLASSIC HISTORY
The Oredigger Volleyball Classic started in 2005 under former Mines Head Volleyball Coach Shelly Johnson. When current head lady Jamie Magalei took over in 2008, she made it Mines' season opener and it has stayed that way for 17 of the last 19 seasons. Overall, the hosts tout a record of 61-20 in the invitational with Coach Magalei going 55-14 during her time at the helm. The Orediggers have won a total of 197 sets compared to 85 losses. Magalei's set record is 173-74. Since 2014, Mines is 33-10 at the Oredigger Classic including 18 sweeps, 11 four-setters, and four five-set classics. Most recently, in 2025, Magalei's Orediggers went 4-0 for the first time since 2018. Mines reeled off a trio of four-setters against South Dakota Mines, Davenport, and Valdosta State before taking then-#14 ranked Grand Valley State to five sets and knocking off the Lakers.
 
IN THE POLLS
Earlier this month, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) both released their preseason polls and Mines was featured in both. The Orediggers tied for third in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' poll. They were knotted up with defending national champion MSU Denver while UCCS and Colorado Mesa slotted #1 and #2, respectively. Mines also received votes in the AVCA-Taraflex Division II Preseason Poll. The 23 votes were equivalent to #35 in the nation. Other RMAC and South Central Region teams in the national rankings included #3 MSU Denver, #19 West Texas A&M, and #21 Angelo State while UCCS, Colorado Mesa, and Dallas Baptist all received votes as well. The conference and national recognition comes after a resurgent 2025 campaign in which Mines went 21-8 (10-4 RMAC), finished #4 in the conference standings, and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2022.
 
SAVVY VETS
Head Coach Jamie Magalei has 13 Orediggers returning from her 2025 roster. Those Mines veterans include Tori Garrett, Brinleigh Davis, Cadence McDonald, Abbie O'Shay, Naomi Romslo, Olivia Murillo, Jenna McLaughlin, Layla Padgett, Presley Powell, Avery Perreira, Francesca Nuzzo, Adrienne Enriquez, and Eryn Hiraki. Romslo, Powell, and Nuzzo make up the returning seniors. McLaughlin, O'Shay, and Nuzzo were All-RMAC in 2025 with McLaughlin earning all-region distinction as well.
 
NOD TO THE NEWCOMERS
Mines volleyball had six fresh faces join the squad this fall. Kennedie Browning, Caroline Walden, Kaiya Gilbert, Sophia Davila, and Bailey Rosander all arrived in Golden as true freshmen. Emily Rohrer joined the Orediggers as a graduate transfer from Southwest Minnesota State in the NSIC. Browning hails from Texas with Walden and Davila coming from Texas. Gilbert stayed in her home state of Colorado after playing at Castle View High School. Rosander made a quick trip from Salt Lake City Utah to become an Oredigger.
 
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 (384-147) and win percentage (.723) by a large margin. Magalei is also the longest-tenured and winningest head coach among current RMAC skippers. Furthermore, the North Dakota native is 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 384-147 (.723) overall, she's nearly 190 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 over 190 wins ahead of Colorado Christian's Bobby Blanken who's entering 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. List also ranks second in overall winning percentage behind Magalei at .674.
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers' next action will be four matches at the Cal State East Bay Tournament in Hayward, Calif. Competition there starts Thursday and ends Saturday morning. Live coverage information and a full preview 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 keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.