Mazour excels on, off volleyball court

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Senior middle blocker Paige Mazour knows what it’s like to work hard. Mazour has helped the women’s volleyball team in many ways for the past three years of her career.

After graduating in 2005 from Franklin High School in Nebraska, Mazour decided to bring her volleyball game to Kansas. Both Kansas and Creighton recruited her before she ultimately decided to come to Kansas, a decision, she said, that was immediately reaffirmed when she arrived here.

“The community and everything about the coaches and the environment is great,” she said.

Photo by Weston White

Senior middle blocker Paige Mazour elevates for a slam at the net. Mazour has found both on the court and in the classroom.

On the court isn’t the only place where Mazour performs. Retaining a 4.0 grade point average, she was one of just five players in the Big 12 selected for the Academic First-Team All-Big 12 last year.

“It’s kind of time management, your priorities and how you want to set yourself up for the future,” Mazour said.

The future looks bright for Mazour. She will graduate in the spring with degrees in human biology and accounting, and said she planned to go to dental or medial school after graduation.

She said she had also made time for practice in the kitchen, noting another passion of hers. Desserts are her favorite things to make.

Freshman middle blocker Taylor Tolefree said she had learned a lot from Mazour, and that Mazour was the kind of person who led by example.

“Paige brings energy in a way that she never stops trying,” Tolefree said. “She is not the one that you have to ask to try harder.”

Coach Ray Bechard said he had been impressed with Mazour from the beginning.

“Since the day she’s got here she has established a work ethic that’s been as good as what I have seen since I have been here,” Bechard said. “She has continued to work extremely hard and the work is now paying off.”

Tolefree said Mazour had a good sense of humor and was easygoing. Bechard said Mazour had had a positive effect on the team.

“For the first couple of years she has given unconditional effort each and every day and now that is showing,” Bechard said. “She has created an opportunity for her to impact us offensively and defensively.”

— — Edited by Jacob Muselmann

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