By BRENDAN SOARES Cranston East product Lauren Milani's freshman campaign as a member of the Central Connecticut women's volleyball team is starting to hit the home stretch, with the ex-Thunderbolt taking an active role on the court for the Blue Devils.

She has played in all but three of CCSU's 20 contests to date, being named in the starting lineup in eight of the team's 11 most recent matches, dating back to a straight-sets defeat of Hartford on September 16.

Milani has posted solid numbers for the Blue Devils, placing inside the squad's top five in several statistical categories, compiling 82 kills, 294 total attacks and 97 digs, with 15 of the latter coming in Friday's five-set loss to Sacred Heart.

The outside hitter surpassed her previous season best of 13, which she set back on September 11 in a four-set triumph over Siena that gave Central Connecticut its' second straight win after a 0-7 start to the campaign.

It was arguably Milani's most complete performance thus far, as she also contributed to the Blue Devil cause with 12 kills, 27 total attacks and 14 points to help keep the Saints at bay.

After the aforementioned rocky start to the season, Central Connecticut has since encountered smoother travels as they are now 8-12 in the fall with a 5-3 mark against Northeast Conference opposition.

With a half-dozen matches remaining in the regular season, the Blue Devils have a chance to finish above the .500 mark and can inch closer towards that goal this weekend as they hit the road for games against Long Island and St. Francis-Brooklyn. Compared to his 2019 season, Cranston native Peyton Phillips hasn't had the best of luck in being featured in the University of New England passing attack this fall, but made the most of his opportunity last Saturday against Husson.

The La Salle product hauled in only his second catch of the campaign in the second quarter of the Nor'easters contest against the Hawks, scampering 44 yards down the field in what was the team's longest play from scrimmage on the day.

Unfortunately for UNE, Husson proved to be too powerful as they outscored the hosts 27-7 in the second half on their way to a 41-14 victory, their first all-time over the Nor-easters after two previous defeats.

Prior to his catch against the Hawks, Phillips' previous reception on the season came on September 18 in UNE's 20-17 win over Alfred State, with the senior gaining four yards before being hauled down by the Pioneers' Jasiah Nichols.

The Nor'easters will be traveling south this Saturday in their quest to return to winning ways as they will be taking on an Endicott team that fell 21-14 to Salve Regina last time out, snapping a four-game winning streak in the process.