Shives finds her niche on defense

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By Pete Mollica

YOUNGSTOWN — When Youngstown State junior volleyball standout Laurie Shives was in high school she was one of the taller players on the team and thus was one of Central Crossing High’s big hitters.

When Shives came to Youngstown State in 2007 she found out that she was much better suited to play at libero or as a defensive specialist and she has been a standout there the past two seasons.

Thursday evening Shives and the Penguins will hold their home opener when they play host to Butler in their Horizon League opener at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center.

The Penguins are 2-6 on the season, but have played all eight matches on the road.

“It will be great playing at home this week,” said Shives, who leads the Penguins and ranks 10th in the Horizon League with 3.562 digs per set. She has started every match and played in all 29 sets at libero this season.

The Penguins are coming off a disappointing weekend when they were swept twice by Buffalo.

“We just haven’t been able to put everything together this year,” Shives said. “We’ve played very well at times, but we just haven’t bee able to do it all the time. We’re hoping that playing before our fans will help us to get things straightened around.

Shives registered a career-high 29 digs earlier this season in a five-set loss to Evansville and she has reached double digits in digs in six of the Penguins eight matches, including each of the last three.

The Penguins have a tough opponent on Thursday in Butler, a team that they have never beaten in 17 previous matches.

“They’re pretty good, but we’ve taken them to five sets a couple of times recently and we’re looking forward to the match,” Shives added.

The Penguins will also be at home on Friday when they play host to Valparaiso in another conference matchup also at 7 p.m. at Beeghly Center.

Shives says that she really enjoys playing at libero or as the defensive specialist.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing defense and the coaches felt that was my best position when I came here,” she continued. “I also liked being a hitter in high school, but I’m not needed for that here.

Shives played in all 28 matches and 99 sets a year ago. She registered 248 digs, 30 assists and 28 aces. She started 13 times as libero and five more times as defensive specialist.

As a freshman Shives appeared in all 30 matches and 117 sets and led the team and ranked ninth in the Horizon League with 437 digs, which ranked third on the Penguins’ single-season digs list. She was also the fifth YSU player and the first since 1999 to post at least 400 digs in a season.

Her coach, Joe Bonner, has high respect for the junior.

“She’s a great passer with a lot of mobility,” Bonner said. “She had a tremendous spring season and has displayed wonderful leadership.”

mollica@vindy.com