LAKEWOOD, CO – After a long wait to play their first official match for the 2020-21 school year, the Cougars couldn't grab a season opening win.

The Colorado School of Mines volleyball squad's offense was clicking along well as they posted a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-16) victory on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Orediggers posted a team hitting percentage of .403 in the contest. They hit at least .345 as a team in each set. The defending RMAC Tournament championships recorded 40 kills with just nine errors on 77 swings.

In the first set, the Orediggers posted their best hitting stanza as they registered a .458 mark with 13 kills and two errors to take the early lead. 

Colorado Christian, aiming to keep their neighbors from Golden within striking distance, battled well in the second frame only to see the Orediggers pull away. During the stanza, the Cougars got their deficit down to 18-17 but the visitors scored seven of the last nine points to secure the victory.

The visitors scored the first four points of the final set and never let the Cougars get closer than two points the rest of the stanza as they swept the contest.

COUGAR LEADERS: A bright spot for the Cougars was newcomers Alli Douglas who had nine kills in her collegiate debut.

Christa Tucker had eight digs from her libero position while Maddie Burns handed out 22 assists in her senior season debut.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• There were two leads changes in the match
• Colorado Christian had 26 kills and hit .061 for the contest
• Elle Duis had a match four service aces as the Orediggers had eight

UP NEXT: The Cougars are slated to return to the CCU Event Center court on Saturday, Feb. 6 for a Saturday morning contest against South Dakota Mines.