Three Stars: Bryks, Lord, Shimoda earn honours
December 2, 2025

Three Stars: Bryks, Lord, Shimoda earn honours

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Women's volleyball student-athlete Alyshia Bryks is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after breaking the program record for the most points by a Griffin in a Canada West match last Friday.

Bryks accounted for 30.5 points in MacEwan's epic 3-2 loss to Saskatchewan on Friday, a performance which included a career-high 23 kills.

Men's volleyball student-athlete Brendon Lord and women's volleyball student-athlete Payton Shimoda are the second and third stars of the week, respectively.

It's the first appearance of the 2025-26 season in the Three Stars for both Bryks and Lord, while Shimoda is being honoured for the second time, following being named third star on Sept. 30.

Alyshia Bryks broke the program record for the most points by a Griffins women's volleyball player in a Canada West match with 30.5 on Friday (Husain Dhooma photo).

1st STAR: Alyshia Bryks, OH, women's volleyball

Andrew, AB, fifth-year, Science

No Griffins women's volleyball player had ever lapped over 30 points in a Canada West match until Bryks accomplished the feat on Friday.

With a multi-cat performance that included 23 kills, three aces, seven digs and eight blocks, she amassed 30.5 points to break Mariah Bereziuk's program record of 28.0 set in 2024. 

Her kills total – on a solid .286 hitting percentage – is not only a career high, but is tied for fifth by a Griffin in a CW match, just two back of the program record of 25, shared between Cassidy Kinsella and Bereziuk.

In Saturday's 3-2 win over Saskatchewan, Bryks was again a solid contributor with 11 kills, one ace, seven digs, five blocks and 15.0 points.

For the season, she's second on the Griffins in kills/set (2.85) and points/set (3.6).

The Griffins are now on semester break but will return to action Jan. 9-10 when they visit Winnipeg.

Brendon Lord was the emotional leader for a young Griffins team playing six rookies in a weekend series against defending U SPORTS bronze medalist Saskatchewan (Husain Dhooma photo).

2nd STAR: Brendon Lord, OH, men's volleyball

Sherwood Park, AB, third-year, Arts

As the young Griffins did their best to hang with defending U SPORTS bronze medalist Saskatchewan before falling 3-0 and 3-0 over the weekend, Lord was a steadying presence.

Despite playing through an injury, he led the Griffins in kills both nights and was an emotional leader on the court for a team playing six rookies in the series.

On Friday, Lord finished with eight kills on a .100 hitting percentage, adding two blocks and accounting for a team-high 9.0 points.

On Saturday, he had six kills on a .333, adding an ace, four digs and two blocks to finish with 8.5 points. 

For the season, Lord is second on the Griffins in kills/set (2.47) and points/set (2.9).

The Griffins are off for the semester break before returning to action at Winnipeg Jan. 9-10.

Griffins' setter Payton Shimoda had 80 assists in MacEwan's two-game series vs. Saskatchewan (Husain Dhooma photo).

3rd STAR: Payton Shimoda, S, women's volleyball

Edmonton, AB, fifth-year, Commerce

The heartbeat of MacEwan's attack, Shimoda's play always goes well beyond the scoresheet as she led the Griffins to an epic weekend split against Saskatchewan as both matches in the series went the distance.

The veteran setter finished with 80 assists, 21 digs and three aces in the two matches, but her work allowed the Griffins to attack at a .265 percentage in Saturday's 3-2 win.

In Friday's 3-2 loss, they attacked at .160, but Shimoda crossed the 40-assist threshold for the third time this season.

In 2025-26, Shimoda is eighth in the conference in assists/set (8.25) and is now up to 2,484 career assists. That's a program record, but she's also approaching the top-20 all-time in Canada West history, a spot currently held by UFV's Cailin Bitter with 2,634.

The Griffins are now on semester break but will return to action Jan. 9-10 when they visit Winnipeg.