GOLDEN, Colo. – Oredigger volleyball knocked off the defending national champions Saturday evening with a 3-0 victory over #24 MSU Denver inside Lockridge Arena.
A balance between offense and defense fueled the win.
Cadence McDonald led the home team with 11 kills. She committed just two errors on 30 attempts to record a .300 attack percentage.
Abbie O'Shay's nine kills on .381 hitting were right behind as
Jenna McLaughlin and
Kaiya Gilbert both converted over .300 as well. On defense,
Francesca Nuzzo guided the back row with her 11 digs. McLaughlin loomed big at the night thanks to her six total blocks including four solo stuffs. Also notable were 30 assists, seven digs, three service aces, and two total blocks from Gilbert.
The victory marked Mines' (11-3) fourth straight sweep. It also avenged a 3-1 loss to MSU Denver (8-6) just two weeks ago. The Orediggers leveraged advantages in service aces, blocks, and attack percentage. They had eight aces, nine total blocks, and hit .221. The Roadrunners only managed two aces, notched five total blocks, and were limited to .165 on the attack. Brooke Gennerman had a match-high 14 kills and GabriElle Brewer lead all players with 31 assists in the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite the final marker of 3-0, each point Saturday evening was hard fought. The opening set alone featured seven ties and three lead changes. Late in the frame, MSU Denver cut its deficit to 23-22 after a solo block. However, McDonald and McLaughlin closed out the 25-22 win with back-to-back kills. McDonald, McLaughlin, and O'Shay all touted four kills apiece after one game of action.
The intensity in Lockridge Arena increased with 13 ties and seven lead changes in the second set. Coaching and player adjustments along with the raucous Mines wrestling team in the stands seemed to turn the tide at 17-17. An O'Shay kill sparked a 5-0 run by the Orediggers which made the score 22-17. The Roadrunners rallied to 22-20, but a Mines timeout stemmed the surge. McLaughlin hammered out two kills after the break and McDonald completed the 25-21 win. That final push seemingly sapped MSU Denver's reserves. The visitors battled in the third set, but just three ties and zero lead changes underscored Mines' momentum. Three kills by
Caroline Walden and McLaughlin's three total blocks polished off a 25-20 victory and the sweep.
NOTABLES
- Mines has swept MSU Denver in back-to-back meetings in Golden, Colo., despite the Roadrunners leading the all-time series against the Orediggers.
- The Orediggers have swept seven opponents in 2026.
- Mines' last set loss was at then-#18 MSU Denver on Sept. 12.
- Saturday's match did not count toward the RMAC standings. It marked the back half of the conference's annual Regional Pod.
- Gilbert, a true freshman, officially went over 500 assists for the season. She also equaled her single-match high of three service aces.
- McLaughlin surpassed 250 career blocks thanks to a collegiate-best four solo blocks in just one match.
- Walden also matched her career-high with two blocks Saturday night.
- Mines Head Coach
Jamie Magalei is now 395-150 in her 19th season at the helm.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts Colorado Christian at Lockridge Arena next Friday at 6 p.m. to open Homecoming Weekend.
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.
