LAKEWOOD, CO- The Cougars took on Colorado School of Mines for the second time this season on Saturday, this time at home at a raucous CCU Event Center. In four very close sets, CCU fell 24-26, 23-25, 27-25, 24-26. 

Set one began well for CCU as they took an early 9-4 advantage off a pair of Renee Phillips kills and a block from the senior. Karen Salinger later made it 15-10 with a kill, but Mines rallied back to eventually take a 20-19 lead. Tied at 23-23, Suzanna Conner hammered home a kill for set point, but three straight from the visitors gave them the narrow 26-24 victory. 

A 5-0 run to start the second set put the Cougars in a good spot early as a Kristina House ace and pair of Conner kills keyed the run. Mines once again clawed their way back, tying things at 15-15. Conner and Phillips eventually gave their team a 21-20 lead with kills, but once again managed to win the final three points of the set for a 25-23 win. 

A very tight back and forth third set saw the Cougars take a 13-11 lead off a House ace, and Salinger and Conner made it 22-18 with kills. CSM made it close once again at the end of the set, scoring three straight and eventually tying it at 25 apiece. CCU buckled down, as consecutive kills from Connelly Kilgore gave the hosts the 27-25 win to force another set. 

Kilgore had another strong set as a pair of kills saw CCU edge ahead 14-12. Salinger and Conner had kills as the lead grew late to 20-15. The Orediggers once again closed the set strong, going on a pivotal three point run to close the gap to 22-23, and and each team earned set points before Mines scored the final two after it was tied 24-24 for the 26-24 set win and 3-1 victory. 

Conner paced the offense with 19 kills, while Kilgore had 16 followed by Salinger with 15. Kate Ringer dished out a stellar 35 assists, and Danielle Seabern had 23. House picked up 21 digs to lead the back row. 

The Cougars continue RMAC play on the road at Colorado Mesa on October 17 with first serve from Grand Junction set for 6 p.m. MDT.