GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team claimed its share of the 2018 RMAC regular-season title Friday night with its four-set win over UCCS inside Lockridge Arena in the Orediggers' regular-season finale.
 
Taylor Hicken led the championship charge with a massive night. The true freshman knocked down 18 kills while hitting .469 with seven total blocks. Lindsey Jin and Hannah Martin also racked up double-digit kills with 10 and 11, respectively. Drew Stokes notched her fifth double-double of the year behind 51 assists and 10 digs. Elle Duis led all players with 19 digs on the night.
 
Mines (22-4, 16-2 RMAC) closes the regular season tied with Dixie State for first place in the RMAC standings. With its part of the crown in hand, Mines also claims the #1-overall seed in the RMAC tournament thanks to its victory over the Trailblazers earlier this season. The loss for UCCS (12-14, 10-8 RMAC) does not change the Mountain Lions' postseason seeding as they close the regular-season campaign alone in seventh place.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines found itself flatfooted to start the match as UCCS came out firing on all cylinders. A sluggish start for the Orediggers and a .342 attacking percentage for the Mountain Lions helped the visitors to a 25-21 victory in the opening set, despite four total blocks for the home squad.
 
The Orediggers bounced back in the second set by hitting .391 as a team while Hicken dissected UCCS with eight kills on 13 attempts, hitting .538. Martin helped in the efficiency category with five kills while hitting .833. Stokes coordinated it all with 20 assists on 22 kills to give Mines a 25-23 win and tie the match 1-1.
 
After the intermission, the home team's attack leveled out but did not go away. Mines' defense kept the Mountain Lions under .300 on the attack in the third set while the offense hit .303 on the way to a 25-19 win and the Orediggers' first lead of the night. Hicken and Lindsey Jin combined for eight kills in the win to put Mines in position to clinch the match.
 
The Orediggers did not disappoint in the final set. Two total blocks kept UCCS to .184 on the attack. With the defense standing strong, Mines' offense racked up a hitting percentage of .378 as Hicken, Megan Neil and Martin cut the Mountain Lions for 13 combined Kills. A cool 12 assists from Stokes and seven digs from Elle Duis clinched the 25-20 win and the victory in the match.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is riding an 11-match win streak against UCCS dating back to 2012.
- The Orediggers have won six of the last seven RMAC regular-season titles.
- Hicken's 18 kills and seven blocks are both career highs for the freshman.
- Stokes' 51 assists give her 1,141 on the season which ranks #9 on Mines' single-season assists list.
- Mines has combined for 18 total blocks over its last two matches.
- Hicken surpassed 200 kills for the season Friday night against UCCS.
- Coach Magalei is 254-85 in 11 seasons at Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts eighth-seeded Fort Lewis Tuesday night at 7 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena in the first round of the RMAC Tournament. Live stats and video of the match will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.