GOLDEN, Colo. – Outside hitter Rose Stuewe led the #12-ranked Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team to a 3-0 win on Friday night against CSU Pueblo inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Stuewe's 14 kills led all players, and she hit .500 in the process. Julia Eiken joined her teammate in double digits with 10 kills of her own while converting at a .450 clip. Elle Duis was big in the back row for Mines, producing 21 digs at a rate of 7.0 digs per set. Once again, Drew Stokes coordinated it all with 39 assists, four digs, two blocks and two kills with zero errors on offense. Also notable were Taylor Hicken's nine kills, three blocks and .571 attack percentage. Amanda Donais notched nine kills as well while hitting .348 on the outside.
 
Mines (18-3, 11-2 RMAC) earned the victory behind a team hitting percentage of .381. CSU Pueblo (15-6, 9-4 RMAC) only managed a .155 mark on the attack. Part of "The Pack's" issue was five total blocks by the Orediggers. Mines' defense kept all ThunderWolves in single-digit kills. The victory keeps the Orediggers tied for third in the RMAC standings with Colorado Mesa. Top-ranked MSU Denver and Regis were headed to a fifth set in their match at the writing of this story. A loss for the Rangers would put Mines, Regis and Colorado Mesa all tied for second in the league at 11-2.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
While the Mines men's soccer team wrapped up its thrilling overtime victory against Colorado Mesa at Stermole Stadium, the rest of Oredigger nation flocked to Lockridge Arena for free Chick-fil-A sandwiches and quality volleyball. The crowd of over 200 fans had barely finished their free sandwich before Mines polished off a 25-15, first-set victory over the ThunderWolves. Both Hicken and Stuewe guided the win with five kills apiece. Arguably more impressive were Duis' 11 digs in the opening frame.
 
Game two proved more challenging for the home team as CSU Pueblo took an early lead. The visitors held their lead and matched Mines point-for-point all the way to 17-17. However, Lindsey Jin and Donais sparked a 3-0 run and the 20-17 margin was all the Orediggers needed. Despite a few more points for "The Pack", Stuewe appropriately hammered down the final kill for a 25-22 win and 2-0 lead in the match. That final point was Stuewe's seventh kill of the second set. Mines carried that momentum in the third, and final game. It proved to be the most lopsided of the night with the Orediggers hitting over .500 on the way to a 25-12 win. In the match-clincher, Stuewe passed the baton to her fellow pin-hitter Donais who racked up six kills on nine attempts without an error to hit .667 in the frame.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 32-42 in the all-time series against CSU Pueblo while boasting a 15-2 mark that dates back to 2007.
- Duis' lone service ace against the ThunderWolves put her at 92 for her career which gives the libero sole possession of #8 on the Orediggers' all-time aces list.
- Mines has swept 11 opponents this fall. Friday also provided redemption after CSU Pueblo swept the Orediggers in Pueblo last spring.
- Head Coach Jamie Magalei is now 310-101 in her career at Mines while boasting a 14-2 career mark against CSU Pueblo.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers host UCCS on Saturday evening at 5 p.m. The theme of the match is "Return to Hogwarts." Fans who attend the Mines football game earlier in the day can use that ticket to get in free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets, or at the door. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be offered at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines volleyball on 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, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.