The fight was a tough one Friday night, with CCU battling down to the wire against a hard-hitting Colorado Mines team. Unfortunately, Mines' prowess overwhelmed Colorado Christian in three quick sets. The 25-22, 25-15, 27-25 decision advanced the nation's fifth-ranked Orediggers to 24-2 on the year, while CCU dropped to 17-12 with just one game left in the 2014 regular season.
 
It was a neck-and-neck contest through much of the opening set, with seven ties on the scoreboard before CSM finally downed the home team. The Orediggers owned the second set, mounting a perfect effort at the net (.440) to cruise to a heavy-handed win. Heading into the third, Christian was leading the match in kills, but wasn't turning in an efficient enough showing to stand a chance in the match.  
 
Still, things started to go CCU's way after the break. Though Mines took an early lead, the Cougars hung around thanks to a sharper defense and thunderous kills from the outside pin. Though they'd managed just one block in the first two sets, Christian showed up for four and a half in the finale. As the match's final moments waned, the blue and gold had a win in their sights – thanks in part to 12 combined kills from Taylor Sturms and Kaylee Pierce.
 
The teams traded leads as the intensity built. Though Mines took the 25-24 advantage late, a Sturms kill knotted the score at 25s. Unfortunately, an Oredigger kill would put the visitors up again (26-25). The match ended with a CSM block.
 
Pierce and middle Ali Weber finished the night with a match-high 12 kills apiece, while Sturms added ten. Joelle LeFevre paced the Cougar defense with 15 digs.
 
CCU will close out the 2014 home schedule Saturday with a 5 pm match against #20 Metro State.