LAKEWOOD, Colo.  – The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team is 2-0 in RMAC play for a sixth consecutive year thanks to 15 total blocks in a five-set win over Colorado Christian inside the CCU Events Center.
 
Abby Tiesman led the Orediggers' (8-2, 2-0 RMAC) block party with eight block assists. She also put down a team-best 14 kills and two service aces on the Cougars (3-8, 1-1 RMAC). Taylor Hicken finished with double-digit kills for the first time in her career with 10 on 22 attempts. Drew Stokes distributed 39 assists while Elle Duis recorded 25 digs.
 
As a team, Mines hit just 186, but held Colorado Christian to a hitting percentage of .176. The Orediggers' 15.0 blocks were the difference as CCU won in kills, digs and assists but only managed seven stuffs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines led the opening set from start to finish as it took a 1-0 lead behind a 25-17 win. The Orediggers hit .281 with four kills from Janice Jin and five total blocks, holding the Cougars to .091 on the attack.
 
Colorado Christian used Mines' game against them in the next two sets as the Cougars jumped ahead in the match 2-1. CCU hit .333 in the second set and .294 in the third as it held the Orediggers to .061 and .133. Tiesman served a bright spot over the middle sets with 10 kills and a service ace.
 
In the fourth set, Mines used a balanced team attack to even the match 2-2. Lindsey Jin led the way with four kills, while Janice Jin, Tiesman and Hicken added three kills each.
 
Mines returned to its bread and butter in the final set as the Orediggers tallied five total stuffs in a set only played to 15. Hicken clinched the win with her offensive prowess, knocking down four kills on five attempts, including back-to-back kills on the final two points.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines has played five sets in four of its last five matches.
- The Orediggers are 4-1 in five-set matches this season.
- Mines has not lost to CCU since Nov. 8, 2016.
- Tiesman's 14 kills put the junior over 500 for her career.
- Mines' 15 total blocks are the most in a five-set match since Oct. 22, 2011.
- Tiesman has recorded eight blocks in a match twice in 2018.
- Hicken's kills (10) and hitting percentage (.273) are both career highs.
- Mines has not lost a match on the opening weekend of RMAC play since 2012.
- Lindsey Jin recorded a career-best 12 digs at Colorado Christian.
- Head coach Jamie Magalei is 240-83 in 11 seasons at Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines travels to Colorado Springs Tuesday for a midweek RMAC contest at UCCS at 7 p.m. Live stats and video 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.