Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina head volleyball coach Karen Glover announced the addition of Paige Shaw as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2025 season. Shaw comes to Cullowhee having spent the past two seasons as the assistant volleyball coach at Grambling State University in Louisiana.
"I am incredibly excited to join Western Carolina volleyball. Karen (Glover) has done an exceptional job with the program, and I'm eager to learn from her extensive experience and leadership. I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of the program while bringing my own skills and expertise to the team," said Shaw. "The unwavering support from the athletic department, university, and community confirms that this is an environment that prioritizes student-athlete success both on and off the court, and I am thrilled to be a part of it."
During her time at Grambling State, Shaw played a key role in fostering a positive culture shift within the program while contributing to the team's on-court success. She managed various aspects of the program, including recruiting, operations, and practice planning.
In her second season, Shaw transitioned into an interim head coach role for the last part of the season, gaining invaluable experience in high-level decision-making and program leadership. She specializes in training pin attackers and liberos. While at Grambling, Shaw helped guide a quartet of players to significant milestones at the 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs, and 1,000 and 2,000 assists plateaus throughout her two seasons with the Tigers.
Shaw began her coaching career in Alabama, working with AAU teams ranging from 12U to 18U immediately after graduating from college. During her time in Alabama, where she worked full-time in club volleyball, she contributed to various aspects of the program including operations, recruiting, and both on- and off-court player development. Shaw then moved to Louisiana, where she continued coaching at the club level, serving as the head coach for the 16U and 14U teams while also assisting with the 13U team.
Throughout her coaching career, Shaw has made significant contributions both at the club and collegiate levels. As a 2024 AVCA Diversity Award recipient, Shaw is dedicated to growing the game, increasing representation in volleyball, and mentoring young athletes. At the club level, she has guided multiple athletes who went on to earn accolades and continue their volleyball careers at the collegiate level.
Shaw's volleyball journey began in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where she was a standout high school and club athlete. She was Ranked the No. 1 player on the AL.com A-List in 2017, leading her team in kills. In her junior year, she recorded 495 kills, 93 blocks, 313 digs, and 67 aces. She played club volleyball for Southern Performance, contributing to her team's 17U AAU National Championship victory.
A 2021 graduate of The University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in business, Shaw began her collegiate career at Mississippi State before transferring to Lawrence, Kansas, to finish her studies. During her time in Starkville, Miss., Shaw showcased her talent on the court and received accolades such as SEC Co-Freshman of the Week honors. She contributed significantly to the team's victories, recording impressive statistics and earning recognition for her outstanding performance.
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