The Kent State volleyball team travels to Youngstown State to face off with the Penguins Tuesday (Sept. 14) in a 7 p.m. non-conference match.

The Golden Flashes (5-6) are looking to get back in the win column after losing their final two matches in the Cleveland State Invitational Presented by the Crowne Plaza Cleveland South last weekend. Kent State swept past Morgan State, 3-0, on Friday (Sept. 10) but came out on the short end against George Washington, 3-0, and Cleveland State, 3-1, Saturday (Sept. 11).

Youngstown State also went 1-2 in its tournament action last weekend, being swept by Michigan and Miami before coming away with a sweep of Chicago State to end the Michigan/adidas Invitational with a victory.

TAKE IT OR LIVA IT

Junior Liva Brivule (Riga, Latvia) is KSU's biggest offensive threat this season, posting a team-high 125 kills through 11 matches and matching sophomore Zuzana Markova (Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic) for the team lead in service aces with 11. Brivule also leads the Flashes with 42 blocks (four solo, 38 assisted).

Brivule was named to her second career all-tournament team last weekend, garnering selection to the Cleveland State Invitational All-Tournament Team after tallying 37 kills and 21 digs in three matches.

KEEPIN' UP WTH THE JONESES

Senior Lauren Jones (Kentwood, Mich.) saw extensive action at setter at the Cleveland State Invitational and took advantage of it. She topped her previous career high of 21 set assists she set Friday night against Morgan State by tallying 35 against the Vikings Saturday. Her previous best coming into the tournament was six against Providence College (Aug. 27) earlier this season in the Spartan Classic.

BEWARE OF BULLDOG

Junior Maigan Larsen (Lancaster, Wis.), who is nicknamed 'Bulldog', has enjoyed a breakout season in 2010 and has already surpassed her career season highs in every major statistical category. Her 96 kills, 12 set assists, eight service aces, 117 digs and 24 total blocks (two solo, 22 assisted) are all career bests.

Larsen, who has totaled double digits in kills five times and in digs seven times in 2010, reached career match bests in kills (15) and attack percentage (.278) against Murray State (Sept. 4) in the Bearcat Invitational. Larsen's 26 digs against James Madison (Sept. 4) in the Bearcat Invitational also marked a new career match milestone.

Larsen was named to the Spartan Classic All-Tournament Team after posting 34 kills and five service aces in the season opening tournament and recording a then career-high 13 kills to go along with 12 digs against UNC Greensboro (Aug. 27). She also tallied a career-high two service aces twice, against Navy (Aug. 28) and Providence College (Aug. 27).

DOUBLE YOUR FUN

Four Flashes have accounted for eight double-doubles so far in 2010. Jones was the latest to do so with 35 assists and 11 digs against Cleveland State. Brivule made the list the day before with 15 kills and 10 digs against Morgan State. Markova has two double-doubles with 10 kills and 24 assists against Providence College and 50 set assists and 13 digs against Murray State. Larsen joined Markova against Murray State with 15 kills and 12 digs and made the list three other times with 13 kills and 12 digs against UNC Greensboro, 11 kills and 13 digs against Pittsburgh (Aug. 31) and 10 kills and 13 digs against Cincinnati (Sept. 3).

WHAT'S NEXT

Kent State hosts Syracuse, Duquesne and Louisiana Monroe in the third annual Kent State/Mizuno Open this weekend (Sept. 17-18) at the M.A.C. Center to close out non-conference action this season.