#13 Mines (8-3, 8-3 RMAC) vs. #2 Colorado Mesa (12-0, 9-0 RMAC) – Monday, 5 p.m. – Lockridge Arena [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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REGULAR SEASON FINALE
The #13-ranked Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team closes its regular season on Monday with a showdown against unbeaten and #2-ranked Colorado Mesa at Lockridge Arena. The Orediggers are stinging and ready to rebound from a two-loss weekend. The Mavericks look to lock up the RMAC crown and the #1 seed in the conference tournament. Tons on the line in this top-25 showdown in Golden, Colo.
 
NO SPECTATORS ALLOWED
The Colorado School of Mines policy of not admitting spectators will continue for all sports – including volleyball – until further notice. Mines Athletics will continuously re-evaluate this policy as government guidance changes in the future.
 
FREE ON THE RMAC NETWORK
Even though fans cannot attend Monday's match, everyone can keep up with each point live and for free on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC". Additionally, live stats are available with links above and on the volleyball schedule page at www.minesathletics.com.
 
LOOKING BACK
Mines suffered two losses last Saturday in the RMAC pod hosted by CSU Pueblo at Massari Arena. The Orediggers fell in three sets to the hosting ThunderWolves. Later in the afternoon, Mines fell in a five-set heartbreaker to #21-ranked Regis. Both Julia Eiken and Amanda Donais racked up 20 kills apiece in the pod. Drew Stokes walked away with 75 assists and Elle Duis touted 42 digs.
 
SCOUTING COLORADO MESA
Before coming to Golden, Colorado Mesa puts its unblemished record on the line at Western Colorado on Saturday. Assuming CMU avoids an upset, the Mavericks will roll into Lockridge Arena undefeated in the overhauled 2020-21 season. Mesa set the tone for the season by sweeping then #5-ranked Regis in their opener, and CMU did not look back from there. Through 12 matches, the Mavericks rank fifth in the nation in kills per set, sixth in assists per set, 12th in hitting percentage, 15th in total kills, 18th in total assists and 19th in service aces. Individual leaders include Maddi Foutz averaging 3.16 kills per set while hitting .244. Sabrina VanDeList and Ara Norwood team up for nearly 11 assists per set in the Mavericks' two-setter system. Foutz also leads the team with 3.16 digs per set and Haley Hahn touts 36 blocks.
 
GETTING TO KNOW THE MAVERICKS
Historically, these previews have gone quite in depth on the Colorado Mesa nickname, Mavericks. However, after an extended break from head-to-head competition with CMU, we'll return to the basics to help some you newcomers catch up. Colorado Mesa was formerly known as Mesa State or Mesa State College. The institution actually used to be a junior college. As stated above, the school uses the nickname Mavericks, or Mavs, for its athletic teams. A maverick is defined as an unbranded calf or yearling. However, the term more commonly refers to an unorthodox or independent-minded person. Maverick is also the nickname of Tom Cruise's character in the 1986 film Top Gun, as well as a steel roller coaster and Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Maverick is also the title of the famous western television show created by Roy Huggins, running from 1957-62, starring James Garner. There will be a quiz.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Monday marks the 63rd all-time meeting between Mines and Colorado Mesa on the volleyball court. The Orediggers trail in the rivalry, 19-43, but are 7-3 over the last 10 meetings with CMU. Mines and Mesa last met in the 2019 RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals. It was a five-set showdown in Golden that the Orediggers won. Amanda Donais smacked down 14 kills and hit .382 to lead the team. Rose Stuewe and Lindsey Jin tallied 13 kills and 10 kills, respectively. Drew Stokes added a 45-assist, 12-dig effort, and Elle Duis notched 13 digs. Capping it off was Julia Eiken with six blocks. Mines' last loss to Colorado Mesa was on Oct. 27, 2018. It was also a five-set match that took place in Golden.
 
1,000 KILLS
Despite the two losses, last weekend did bring out a bright spot for the Orediggers. Lindsey Jin surpassed 1,000 kills for her career thanks to 10 kills on the day. Furthermore, Jin accomplished the feat in the 100th match of her career. She enters Monday's match touting 1,004 career kills over 362 sets and 100 matches. Jin is the first Oredigger to hit the milestone since Abby Tiesman accomplished it as a senior in 2019.
 
POSTSEASON PROSPECTS
With one match to play in the regular season, the 2020-21 RMAC Tournament is on the horizon. The conference office released its first official RPI rankings of the season on Monday. Mines checked in at #5 on that list. The RPI rankings are what will determined the regular season champion and the seeding for the RMAC Tournament. Additionally, this year's conference postseason will be played over three days with the top seed as the host. Similar to the NCAA Regional Tournament. If the tournament began today, Colorado Mesa would host and play South Dakota Mines in the first round. MSU Denver would claim the second seed and face Colorado Christian. Regis and Western Colorado would face off as the third and sixth seeds. CSU Pueblo and Mines round it out at fourth and fifth.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
For an eighth straight week, Mines appeared in the American Volleyball Coaches' Association Division II Top-25 as the Orediggers slotted in at 13th. The Orediggers held strong inside the nation's top-15 despite two tough losses away from home last weekend. As previously mentioned, Colorado Mesa sits second. The other RMAC programs in the poll include MSU Denver at fourth and Regis tied for 21. CSU Pueblo is the equivalent of 26th overall in the receiving votes section.
 
UP NEXT
Following Monday's match, Mines awaits the final release of the RMAC RPI to find out seeding for the conference tournament. The tournament field along with game times and location will be announced at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can follow the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team on Twitter at @MinesVolleyball and on Instagram at @Mines_Volleyball. Fans can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.