GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa volleyball team upset 18^th ranked Colorado Mines 3-1 (25-23, 25-12, 25-27, 25-22) on Saturday afternoon in Brownson Arena in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match.
 
The loss was Colorado Mines' first RMAC loss of the season and puts them in a tie with the Mavericks in the standings with the Mavericks holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.
 
Senior right side Gabriela Dias was on fire all evening, finishing with a match-high .389 hitting percentage and 18 kills. Dias had six kills in the match clinching fourth set.
 
"We went into the match mentally prepared and we knew we had to give our best effort to come away with a win," Dias said. "On top of the that, it was such a fun environment to play in."
 
Not to be outdone, junior middle Hattie GIaninetti finished with a .375 hitting percentage and 13 kills. Gianinetti had four kills in the first set and five in the second. She also led the team in blocks with three.
 
The Mavericks won a see-saw first set 25-23 before dominating the Orediggers in the second set 25-12. The 25-12 loss for Colorado Mines is the worst single set loss the Orediggers have had since November 18, 2010 against Southwest Minnesota State.
 
Colorado Mines fought back to take the third set 27-25.
 
Freshman Allison Smith kept the Mavericks in the set with seven kills.
 
Colorado Mesa clinched the match with a 25-22 win in the fourth set.
 
Senior Ali Svorinic kept the Mines defense honest all evening, helping the hitters to a .222 hitting percentage and a 12.75 assist per set average.
 
"This was a huge team win. We did a really good job keeping the momentum on our side of the net," the senior setter said.
 
"We believe as a team this is just the start. We still have a long way to go."
 
The Mavericks will travel to South Dakota to battle with Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines.