February 27, 2024

Three Stars: Shimoda, Frith, Alexander earn honours

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Women's volleyball student-athlete Payton Shimoda is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after her performance in the Griffins' opening round playoff series on the weekend.

Shimoda finished the weekend with 61 assists across two matches as the Griffins squared off with UFV in a quarter-final series, setting one of the team's most varied attacks all season.

Women's volleyball middle Kara Frith and women's soccer goalkeeper Sabrina Alexander were named the second and third stars, respectively.

It's Shimoda's second-straight week in the Three Stars after being named second star on Feb. 20. She was also named second star on Oct. 24.

Frith is appearing for the first time in 2023-24, while Alexander makes the list for the second time, following first star honours on Sept. 12.

This is the final Three Stars recognition of the 2023-24 campaign (see bottom for recap of all the winners this season).

Payton Shimoda had 61 assists for the Griffins against UFV in their Canada West quarter-final series on the weekend (Jordie Arthur photo).

1^st STAR: Payton Shimoda, S, women's volleyball

Edmonton, AB, third-year, Commerce

After a stellar regular season where she finished third in Canada West in assists/set, Shimoda continued that level of play into the playoffs, helping the Griffins push the favoured UFV Cascades in their best-of-three quarter-final series.

In Saturday's 3-1 loss, she was particularly excellent, setting perhaps the team's most varied attack of 2023-24 as five players hit double digits in points (Alyshia Bryks, Kara Frith, Sarah McGee, Mariah Bereziuk and Arden Butler).

Shimoda finished with a match-high 34 assists, adding an ace, three kills, and six digs.

In Friday's 3-1 loss, Shimoda had 27 assists, a kill and a team-leading 12 digs.

With that production, Shimoda finished with the most assists in a playoff season in program history, the program's best assists/set playoff mark (7.63), and is also now the Griffins' career Canada West playoff assists leader.

Kara Frith led the Griffins with a program playoff record .393 hitting percentage in their series against UFV (Jordie Arthur photo).

2^nd STAR: Kara Frith, MB, women's volleyball

Grande Prairie, AB, third-year, Commerce

The third-year middle's breakout weekend couldn't have come at a better time – in the Griffins' first playoff series in four years – as she was a difference-maker at the net all series.

In Friday's 3-1 loss to UFV, Frith led the Griffins in attacking percentage (.231) and blocks (5), while producing five kills, an ace, two digs and accounting for 9.0 points.

In Saturday's 3-1 loss, she was arguably MacEwan's best player, recording nine kills on a .533 hitting percentage (the Griffins' best on 15 or more attempts), adding two aces, four digs, four blocks and accounting for 13.5 points (tied for tops on the Griffins).

She is the program's new leader in hitting percentage in a Canada West playoff season (minimum 20 attempts), finishing at .393.

Frith finished the regular season fifth in kills on the Griffins (117), second in blocks (51), and fourth in points (157.0).

Sabrina Alexander was player of the game for the Griffins last Thursday as she helped preserve a 1-1 tie against the University of Hawaii (Joel Kingston photo).

3^rd STAR: Sabrina Alexander, GK, women's soccer

Edmonton, AB, first-year, Nursing

As the Griffins wrapped up a Reading Week tour of Hawaii, they remained undefeated in their three-game exhibition series thanks to the play of their first-year goalkeeper.

Alexander was lights out in a 1-1 draw last Thursday against the University of Hawaii – an NCAA Div. 1 squad – as the Griffins completed the tour 2-0-1 after also beating Leahi Soccer Club 2-0 and UNBC 6-0 earlier in the week.

Alexander, who was selected as the Griffins' player of the game against the U of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, made some critical saves to preserve the draw and was in full command of the area.

Her great distribution led to a bunch of quality opportunities.

Alexander earlier wrapped up the 2023 Canada West women's soccer season by breaking several program records – most wins by a rookie goalkeeper (8), best GAA by a rookie (0.63), best save percentage by a rookie (.813), most minutes played by a rookie (858:42) and longest shutout streak by a rookie (306:04).

She was also named to the Canada West All-Rookie team.