HIGH 5 OF THE WEEK: Senior volleyball stars Mihalek, Smith lead the way

Mihalek (ECSU athletics)

Adrianna Mihalek, Eastern Connecticut State University volleyball
The senior and former Holy Cross star has etched her name in the Warrior volleyball record book.
Mihalek became the school leader in career kills and attack attempts, and she did it in style on Seniors’ Day. Mihalek recorded 12 kills — she needed eight — against Southern Maine on Saturday. She added 11 more kills against Salem State.
Mihalek also broke the school record for attack attempts on the same day. She has 1,397 kills and 4,053 attack attempts for her career.
There’s also a great story about Mihalek on the ECSU website. Check it out here.







Karissa Smith, Western Connecticut State University volleyball

Smith (WCSU athletics)


Another college senior who is wrapping up a fantastic career is this former Bristol Eastern standout.
Smith put up a match-high 18 kills in a win over UMass-Dartmouth on Saturday, which was Senior Day for the Colonials. Smith was named Little East Offensive Player of the Week last week. She had 46 kills and 34 digs in what was a strong effort.
Smith has 382 kills and 304 digs on the season. Smith and WCSU take on Mihalek and ECSU tonight.






Namazi (Post athletics)

Sarah Namazi, Post University tennis
Though just a sophomore, the Kennedy graduate helped propel the Eagles into their first-ever Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference championship final.
Post lost in that final, 5-1 to Goldey-Beacom in Philadelphia.
Namazi was 10-5 in singles play during the regular season, including 6-1 in conference play. Namazi’s best play came at No. 6 singles, where she was 10-2. 
Namazi was 9-6 overall as a doubles player. Namazi played most of her doubles matches with Jessica Bergen, and the duo was 7-4.
Namazi and Bergen combined for an 8-4 win in the CACC semifinals. Post beat Wilmington University 5-0 to advance to the final.


Johnson (Marist athletics)

Spencer Johnson, Marist College cross country
Johnson has been one of the best long distance runners in the history of the Red Foxes, according to a post on the school’s website.
Johnson was recently awarded the Gregory J. Salamone Memorial Scholarship. He is the second recipient of the scholarship, named after a former school-record-setting runner who passed away from melanoma in 2014.
Johnson is a worthy recipient, according to Director of Track/Cross Country Pete Colaizzo.
“He embodies all of Greg’s wonderful traits — he’s loyal to the team, he’s dedicated to long-distance training and racing, and he is a high achieving student both in and out of the classroom,” Colaizzo said in the story posted on Marist’s website.
Johnson is a senior captain. He was a standout inside and outside the classroom at Bristol Central.

Cole Phelps, Central Connecticut State University football

Phelps (CCSU athletics)


Phelps is only a freshman with the Blue Devils, but he has seen playing time in the past two games.
Phelps played for the first time in a 25-21 home loss to Wagner College on Oct. 15. He played again last Saturday in a 33-25 loss at Coastal Carolina.
In the game against the Chanticleers, Phelps made his first tackle.
At Wolcott, Phelps was a leader on defense and offense as a senior. He led the team with 65 tackles, including 16 for a loss of yardage. Phelps also led the team in sacks with nine, an average of nearly one per game. On the offensive line, Phelps helped pave the way for another strong rushing attack, led by fellow senior Nate Filippone. 
Wolcott made the state playoffs during Phelps’ freshmen and junior years.