After a tough loss to Bryant last weekend, Central Connecticut volleyball has regained control, winning both of their weekend games. With their victories against conference rivals Robert Morris and Saint Francis (PA), the Blue Devils continue to creep up in the standings.

Now sitting at 7-2 in conference play, only reigning Northeastern Conference champions LIU Brooklyn stand in their way, who holds a perfect 9-0 record.

CCSU visited Robert Morris for their first match, facing a Colonial team with the second-worst record in the NEC (2-5). The matchup was perfect for a Blue Devil team trying to come back after getting defeated in straight sets by Bryant last week.

After taking an 8-6 lead, the Blue Devils never looked back, leading by as much as four and finishing off the first set with three straight points.

Central looked poised to make similar work of the second set, taking a 4-3 lead after a Madelyn Kaprelyan Kaprelyan kill.

The Colonials halted CCSU’s momentum, using a 12-2 run to jump out to a 16-5 lead.

The Blue Devils would battle back to tie the game at 21 after a block from Emma Henderson, but three blocks and a kill would seal the second set victory for the Colonials.

The third set saw many lead changes, as both teams would exchange runs. After a 12-9 Colonial lead, the Blue Devils fought back to regain a 21-18 advantage. Two straight kills from Kaprelyan and Quirarte, respectively, would set up game point. A block from Kaprelyan and Nicole Kraemer would win the CCSU the set.

Never straying from the dramatics, the Blue Devils had another close set in the fourth. Trailing by three early, they were able to score five straight on a run highlighted by a Kaprelyan kill and Erin McDermott ace. They never trailed after this and would close out the final set with a 25-19 victory, winning the Blue Devils the game.

Kaprelyan posted yet another triple-double in the win, landing 17 kills, 17 assists and 14 digs. Quirarte was able to notch a double-double for her efforts, adding in 12 kills and 19 digs for the Blue Devils.

But Central had to fight harder in their second match, coming back from a 2-1 set deficit against Saint Francis (PA).

The Blue Devils fought early for a 6-5 lead, but trailed for the remainder of the set, with a Red Flash block and ace winning the set, 25-19.

CCSU was in the driver’s seat for the second set, extending an early lead to 19-10. Two straight kills and an SFU error would decisively win the Blue Devils the second set 25-15.

Continuing to trade sets, the Red Flash would secure the second set after taking a nine-point lead early. CCSU was able to piece together runs but ultimately lost 25-19.

The fourth set was anyone’s game down the stretch tied at 17, but an 8-3 run secured the must-win set for CCSU.

Disaster struck early in the final set, as SFU easily bust out the first five points of the set. A timeout quickly shifted the momentum in CCSU’s favor, scoring six straight to regain the lead. The Blue Devils would not trail for the remainder and won the set 15-13, taking the critical road victory.

CCSU will travel to Bryant, who they are tied with for second in the NEC, on Saturday, Oct. 27.