February 24, 2026

Three Stars: Shimoda, Jean Jr., Inglis 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 a best-of-three playoff series at UFV on the weekend.

Shimoda had 104 assists in three matches, highlighted by tying the program record for the most by a Griffin in a CW playoff match with 37 in Game 3 on Sunday.

Men's hockey forward Dwayne Jean Jr. and women's soccer fullback Kiera Inglis were named the second and third stars of the week, respectively.

It's the fourth time in 2025-26 that Shimoda has made the Three Stars, having previously been named first star on Feb. 3 and third star on Sept. 30 and Dec. 2.

Jean Jr. is appearing for the third time after being named first star on Oct. 28 and Dec. 9.

Inglis is making her first appearance of the season on the list.

This is the final Three Stars of the 2025-26 campaign.

Payton Shimoda had 104 assists over a terrific weekend vs. UFV in their best-of-three play-in series (Kyra Maclean photo).

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

Edmonton, AB, fifth-year, Commerce

Wrapping up her illustrious career on the weekend in style, the Griffins' graduating setter was the linchpin for the team in their bid to knock off the higher-seeded UFV Cascades in the opening round of the playoffs.

While the Griffins had some record-breaking performances from Alyshia Bryks (her 17 kills and 21.0 points in Saturday's match were the most by a Griffin in a CW playoff game) and Kara Frith (her four service aces on Sunday also broke a program record), it was Shimoda who stood out as the team's top player.

The fifth-year setter played phenomenal defence and produced 104 assists over the three matches, including matching Kylie Schubert's program record for the most by a Griffins setter in a Canada West playoff match with 37 on Sunday.

In Friday's 3-1 loss, Shimoda had 31 assists, nine digs and two blocks.

MAKIN' PANCAKES!
While the Griffins didn't get this point in the fourth set, the back-to-back pancake blocks by Ella Graves and Payton Shimoda highlighted how well they played defence in a 3-1 Game 2 win.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/Yxspvr3d6e
— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 22, 2026

In Saturday's 3-1 win, she had 36 assists, a kill, 13 digs and three blocks.

And on Sunday, to go along with 37 assists, she had a kill and seven digs.

Shimoda finishes as the Griffins' career leader in both regular season assists (2,769 – 17^th all-time in Canada West) and playoff assists (165).

Dwayne Jean Jr. led the Griffins with a goal and an assist in Friday's 6-4 loss to Calgary (Liam Froment photo).

2^nd STAR: Dwayne Jean Jr., F, men's hockey

Edmonton, AB, first-year, Open Studies

The electric rookie forward stood out in MacEwan's quarterfinal playoff matchup against the Calgary Dinos with two points and six shots on the weekend.

In Friday's 6-4 loss, Jean Jr. had a goal and an assist, matching program records for the most points by a Griffin and most by a MacEwan rookie in a Canada West playoff game.

GOAL��
Dwayne Jean Jr. snipes it back bar to draw the @MacEwanGriffins within one 2:21 into the third period. It's 5-4 @UCDinos in a barnburner in the opening game of this @CanadaWest quarterfinal series.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/6mWR7fnsNq
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) February 21, 2026

He was held off the scoresheet in Saturday's 4-1 loss but finished with three shots.

Overall, Jean Jr. was +1 in the series.

For the season, Jean Jr. was third in rookie scoring on the Griffins with 17 points.

Kiera Inglis, seen in action against Manitoba last August, led the Griffins to a 5-0 win over Hawaii Pacific University during an exhibition tour on Sunday (Norman Bo photo).

3^rd STAR: Kiera Inglis, D, women's soccer

Edmonton, AB, first-year, Nursing

With the Griffins testing themselves against a pair of NCAA teams this week in Hawaii, the rookie fullback stepped up and led them to a big win in their opening game on Sunday.

Inglis had two points and drove play from the back, leading the Griffins to a 5-0 win over Hawaii Pacific University (NCAA Div. II).

Her incredible cross into Sophie Lavallee for the game-winner on the Griffins' first goal of the game was a true highlight-reel play.

She then scored a goal from distance to the top corner to make it 2-0.

Inglis also brought her standout defensive play to help ensure the Griffins earned a clean sheet.

MacEwan will also meet NCAA Div. I team University of Hawaii on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. MT) before returning to Edmonton.