How It Happened
The nationally 22nd-ranked Colorado School of Mines dropped a hard-fought 3-1 match at #23 MSU Denver on Friday, October 21 at the Auraria Events Center.

Mines (15-5, 9-2) was unable to overcome an uncharacteristically poor hitting night (.120) against MSUD (17-3, 12-0). The Roadrunners had a commanding 14-2 edge blocking and were up 8-2 on the service line as well.

Mines was able to take the opening set 25-23 by taking full advantage of 10 attacking errors, six service errors and one reception error by the Roadrunners. The Orediggers only had eight kills in the frame with five of them coming from LaRose Currie.

The Roadrunners cut down the errors in the second set to come back and tie the game with a 25-18 victory. After falling behind by as much as six, Mines fought to get the game within two (20-18), but MSUD closed out the frame on a 5-0 run.

Set #3 started out closely with MSU Denver only leading 12-10 in the early going. Unfortunately, the Roadrunners were able to take the narrow lead and turn it into a 20-12 advantage they would never relinquish.

Now trailing in the match of the first time, Mines appeared in peril of being put away as they found themselves down 19-14. LaRose Currie wouldn't let the Orediggers go away quietly as she drilled five kills in an 8-2 run which gave them a 22-21 lead. 

Both teams then traded points all the way into tiebreakers with Mines one point away from winning the frame twice, but back-to-back attacking with the match tied at 26 proved to the demise. 

Notables
-    With Mines' 21st point in the opening set, senior right side hitter Alanna Winfield became the program's all-time leader in kills with 1,517. She broke former Mines great Jackie Stabell's (2009-12) four-year old record of 1,516, and now has 1,525 with 10 kills tonight.
-    The loss also squandered a career night from LaRose Currie who had career-best 16 kills to go along with 13 digs for her third straight and sixth overall double-double of the season.
-    Ellie Monarch was second on the team with 13 kills on a team-high .312 hitting.
-    Taryn Huber put up her fourth consecutive match with 20-plus digs with tonight's 22. 

Up Next
Mines will look to bounce back tomorrow evening with a 5 p.m. match at UCCS.