COLORADO SPRINGS- The Colorado School of Mines Orediggers outlasted the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in the pivotal third set, allowing the Orediggers to grab a 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 26-24, 25-17) win Saturday evening at the Lions' Den.

The score was tied 15 times in the third set, the final one at 24. After a UCCS attack went long, Annie Auxier finessed a service ace to give Mines the 26-24 decision.

The near miss created a hangover in the fourth set as UCCS dug itself a 7-1 hole. The Mountain Lions clawed back into it, drawing to within one at 16-15,

"We upped our excitement and our level of intensity," said UCCS junior Kim Boogaard, who had 10 kills."(The Orediggers) were yelling and screaming, trying to get into our heads, but we were able to rally back."

But once back, the Mountain Lions couldn't maintain. Mines answered with seven straight points, including four kills by Elizabeth Serra-Hsu.

Between the second and third sets, the Orediggers made two key adjustments. First, they avoided UCCS libero Kelsey Pobar. Second, they wrapped their offense around their best weapon -- Serra-HSU.

Pobar, who had 19 digs in the first two sets, was limited to nine in the final two sets combined.

"Kelsey's an awesome digger," said Boogaard. "Going away from her and into the deep corners where there isn't anyone was obviously a positive for them."

Serra-Hsu, meanwhile had five kills in the third set and seven in the decoding fourth set. The sophomore finished with a match-high 17 kills.

"We knew that she was one of their biggest hitters and we tried to shut her down, and in the first and second (set) I think we did that," said Boogaard. "But she turned it on in the third (set) and continued all the way until the end."

Molly Crockett led UCCS (12-12, 7-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) with 13 kills. Lauren Orth added 12 and Kim Boogaard had 10.

Kaity Edmiston added 10 kills for Mines (16-9, 11-4 RMAC).

UCCS senior Jessica Stewart, playing in her final match in the Lions'Den, had 41 assists and 12 digs.

"She's such a good influence and such a good example for our team with her work ethic," said Boogaard of Stewart. "She did a great job tonight; we're all proud of her."