Paige Shumway: A multi-sport athlete from Moab

In a recent interview, Paige Shumway, a student at Utah State University Eastern and a standout player in both volleyball and softball, shared insights into her sports journey and experiences growing up in both disciplines.

Paige began her softball career at the age of 8, playing for a travel team in Utah County. Living in an area without travel ball, she faced challenges being three hours away from regular practice sessions. Acknowledging her father’s pivotal role in her development, Paige expressed gratitude for his dedication, spending countless hours working with her. Her parents’ willingness to drive her long distances for tournaments made her success possible. High school softball, where her dad coached her, became some of Paige’s most cherished moments. Playing alongside her older and younger sisters, their small team consistently placed in the top five throughout high school.

Reflecting on her softball journey to Utah State University Eastern, Paige shared that the coach had been scouting her since 8th grade. Despite initial reservations about attending a college close to home, Paige fell in love with the campus during her visit.

Volleyball presented a different path for Paige. Growing up, she didn’t play club volleyball and faced limited exposure to high-level competition until college. Her high school volleyball experience was confined to the seasonal matches. However, during her senior year, after realizing her desire to continue playing after high school, she reconnected with Coach Jensen from Utah State University Eastern. Both the volleyball and softball coaches assured Paige that she could pursue both sports at USUE, leading her to sign with the university.

Looking ahead, Paige has ambitious plans after college. She aspires to continue playing either softball or volleyball at a higher level, though she’s undecided on which sport to pursue. Simultaneously, she is committed to completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

At Utah State University Eastern, Paige Shumway has shown no signs of slowing down. Her dominant performance in volleyball this year has been instrumental in supporting her team, and she now eagerly prepares for the upcoming softball season, ready to contribute to her team’s success.