SPEARFISH, S.D. – Junior Abby Tiesman and senior Janice Jin pushed the #24-ranked Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team past Black Hills State Saturday night as the Orediggers extended their winning streak to seven matches with a four-set victory.
 
Tiesman led all hitters with 16 kills while Janice Jin was second among all players with 13 kills. Taylor Hicken joined the double-digit party with 10 kills of her own along with five total blocks. Drew Stokes was stellar at setter with 53 assists. Elle Duis pumped out 27 digs at rate just under 7.0 digs per set.
 
As a team, Mines (13-2, 7-0 RMAC) posted its second straight match with 10 service aces compared to Black Hills State's (5-8, 2-4 RMAC) two service aces. The Orediggers once again outperformed their opponent in every statistical category, including 10 total blocks as a team.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines came out with a balanced attack in the opening set as Janice Jin, Lindsey Jin and Tiesman knocked down four kills each. However, it would not be enough as the Yellow Jackets edged the Orediggers 25-23 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
In the second set, Mines dismantled BHSU behind five service aces as it evened the match 1-1 with a 25-15 victory. The Orediggers hit .250 in the game and held the Yellow Jackets to just .091 on the attack. Tiesman and Janice Jin combined for eight more kills in the set as Hicken added her fourth block of the night.
 
The Orediggers lost none of their momentum during intermission as they came out and won game three 25-20 to claim a 2-1 lead in the match. Mines carried that spark into the final set with its most dominant performance of the night, hitting .500 as a team and cruising to a 25-13 victory to clinch the win.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines now boasts a seven-match winning streak.
- The Orediggers have not lost since Sept. 1 in Indianapolis.
- As a department, Colorado School of Mines is 17-0 in RMAC action and 20-1 in head-to-head play dating back to Sept. 7.
- Saturday marked the Orediggers' 10th straight win over Black Hills State.
- Mines has only dropped one set in its last five matches.
- The Orediggers are 5-1 on the road this season and 56-13 since 2012.
- Saturday's win gives Mines a 7-0 start to RMAC play for a second consecutive season.
- Stokes has surpassed the 50 assist mark three times in 2018.
- Stokes upped her total assists to 641 for the season Saturday night.
- Hicken's .350 hitting percentage against BHSU marks a career best for the freshman.
- Hicken also surpassed 100 career kills against the Yellow Jackets.
- Head coach Jamie Magalei is 245-83 in 11 seasons at Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines returns to Golden for Homecoming Weekend Sept. 28, hosting Dixie State at 7 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. 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.