The number No. 15 Colorado School of Mines volleyball team swept their three-game home stand this past weekend, finishing a perfect 3-0 and stretching their winning streak to eight, culminated with a victory over conference rival No. 24 Adams State.
The Lady Orediggers opened “Jimmy Johns Weekend” defeating the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves 3-0. After dominating the first set 25-13, the Lady Orediggers had a little harder time putting away the ThunderWolves in the second set, but still outlasted CSU-Pueblo for the 25-20 win. Mines dominated the third set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead and cruising to win set 25-13. Junior Melanie Wanamaker continued her spectacular play this season with 13 kills and five blocks in the match. Hannah Margheim led the Lady Orediggers with 15 digs and Corrine Din and Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood each tallied 11. Johnson-Hazlewood would add 37 assists along with three aces and 11 digs in the win. Overall, Mines recorded a .308 hitting percentage with five blocks, 54 total digs, and six aces in the match.
In the next match against Western State, Mines once again cruised to a 3-0 victory in what looked like a replay of their earlier win over the ThunderWolves. Mines opened up a big, 9-1 lead in the first set and won easily, 25-10. Just as in the first match, the second set was much closer, but once again, the Lady Orediggers came away with the 25-20 set win as both squads hit better than .400. In the third and final set of the night, Mines breezed through to a 25-13 set win and the second victory in as many nights. This win pushed the team’s consecutive set winning streak to 15 and match winning streak to seven. Wannamaker once again led the team with 15 kills and five blocks and Margheim tallied 12 digs to lead the team. Overall, Mines had eight blocks, 49 digs and three service aces to go along with a .457 hitting percentage.
The third and final game for the Lady Orediggers was against No. 24 Adams State. Unlike the previous two contests, this one was hotly contested and came down to the fifth and final set. The Orediggers recorded 20 kills in the first set en route to a 25-16 set win. Adams St. won the second set 25-20, breaking Mines’ 16 set winning streak and tying the match up at one set apiece. The two teams battled back and forth until a kill by Holly Hutchison broke an 8-8 tie and put the Lady Orediggers ahead for good in the set, a set they would eventually win 25-19. The fourth set was even closer. Tied at 15-15 with a Mines victory within grasp, Adams State fought back and extended the match to the decisive fifth set by winning 25-20. The final set was close throughout, but after an early 6-6 tie, the Lady Orediggers pulled away to win the set 15-11 and the match 3-2 to extend their winning streak to eight. Jackie Stabell led the Orediggers with 16 kills and Wannamaker added 15 in the contest. Margheim had 19 digs to lead the team. Overall, Mines tallied 66 kills, 73 digs, three service aces, and a .277 kill percentage.
On the year, the Lady Orediggers are 10-1 at home, 8 -1 in the RMAC and 14-4 overall. After the three game weekend, Margheim currently leads the team with 250 digs while Stabell and Wannamaker have each both tallied over 200 kills on the year. The three-match event was sponsored by Jimmy Johns and during the course of the event students were given the chance to win a free sub once a week for a year. Free t-shirts were given out one night and more free Jimmy Johns food was given away at certain points in the action in what was a successful weekend for the CSM Volleyball team and its fans.
The Lady Orediggers look to continue their winning ways as they begin a four game road trip October 12 at Colorado Mesa (13-3 overall, 7-1 RMAC) in what should be a tight contest.