Grand Valley State University volleyball head coach Deanne Scanlon announced the signing of Maria Mazzocco to attend and play volleyball for the Lakers. Mazzocco (Royal Oak, Mich./Shrine Catholic) will begin her career at Grand Valley State in the 2005 season.

Mazzocco, a 6-1 middle blocker, has played basketball and volleyball for three years at Shrine Catholic High School. The Knights claimed the Catholic League Class D-C and Class C Regional Championships her freshman and sophomore seasons and made it to the Class C State Final Four her junior year. As a sophomore, she was named to the Catholic League First Team, Michigan High School Coaches Association All-Region and All-State Second Team and the Daily Tribune Player of the Year. Following her junior season, Maria earned Catholic League First Team, Daily Tribune Player of the Year, Oakland Press All-County First Team, Detroit News All-Metro Team, Michigan High School Coaches Association All-Region and All-State First Team honors.

Mazzocco led her basketball team to a Class C District Championship her junior year en route to being named to the Catholic League First Team, Catholic League All-Academic, Daily Tribune Player of the Year, Oakland Press All-County Dream Team, and Associated Press Class C All-State Honorable Mention Team. Maria set the Shrine High School game scoring record with 41 points.

Maria is also one of 10 finalists for the Miss Volleyball award. She has been on the High Honor Roll all three years and a member of National Honor Society.

"Maria will be a competitor in the middle because she has a good work ethic and knows how to win," said head coach Deanne Scanlon. "She also has a strong academic background and her knowledge of the game will help her as well."