Oct. 5, 2009

Shives Named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week

Green Bay, Wis. -- Youngstown State junior libero Laurie Shives has been named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

Shives, a native of Grove City, Ohio, averaged a Horizon League-best 5.43 digs per set in two matches last week against Milwaukee and Green Bay. She was also strong in serve receive, committing just one receiving error in 47 chances.

Shives averaged a league-best 5.43 digs per set last week.

Shives posted 13 digs in YSU's 3-0 sweep of defending league champion Milwaukee on Oct. 2. Her efforts help the Penguins halt the Panthers' streak of 37 consecutive Horizon League wins at home.

The libero then posted a match-high 25 digs in four sets against Green Bay as the Penguins registered 87 as a team. The 25 digs were a career-high for Shives in a four-set match.

Shives has registered double digits in digs in six straight matches and in 11 of the last 12. She's also reached 20 in three of the last four matches.

Shives ranks eighth in the Horizon League with 3.95 digs per set, and her 4.59 digs in Horizon League matches ranks sixth.

Shives was also named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 15, 2007

The Penguins will host in-state rivals Wright State and Cleveland State this week. First serve against the Raiders on Tuesday is set for 7 p.m., and the match against the Vikings will be Wednesday at 7 p.m.