CW Coaches Poll: Grifins voted 13th ahead of Friday's season opener
Canada West Communications
EDMONTON – The stage is set for another thrilling season of Canada West women's volleyball, with first serve flying tonight as Trinity Western visits Fraser Valley.
With star national team athletes and multiple championship-calibre programs across the conference, the quality of volleyball on display has never been higher.
The MacEwan Griffins will kick off the season on Friday at Calgary (6:45 p.m.) and Saturday (4 p.m., both Canada West TV).
Coaches voted the Griffins to finish 13th out of 14 teams in Canada West, but realistically they will be a team pushing for a playoff spot after returning almost all of their starters from last season.
The Alberta Pandas enter the season as defending conference champions and also the favourites to repeat, topping this year's coaches poll with nine first-place votes.
Last year's silver medallists, the UBC Thunderbirds, finished second in the rankings with a single first-place nod, while defending national champion Manitoba placed third with two first-place votes. Trinity Western, hosts of this year's national championship tournament, came in fourth with a single first-place vote of their own.
Fans can stream every game on CanadaWest.TV - Powered by BioSteel. This season, purchasing an All-Access pass allows fans to download three games to keep forever. A regular season pass is also available, allowing fans to catch all the action across both men's and women's volleyball for one low price.
The Canada West regular season runs through Feb. 14, with playoffs starting on Feb. 20. The top 10 teams will qualify for the post-season.
The playoffs will culminate in a "Final Four" format beginning March 6.
2025-26 CW WVB PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- Alberta Pandas - 166 (10)
- UBC Thunderbirds - 150 (1)
- Manitoba Bisons - 141 (2)
- Trinity Western Spartans - 132 (1)
- Fraser Valley Cascades - 124
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 114
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 93
- Mount Royal Cougars - 82
- Winnipeg Wesmen - 67
- Calgary Dinos - 67
- UBCO Heat - 52
- Regina Cougars - 35
- MacEwan Griffins - 33
- Brandon Bobcats - 18
MacEwan Griffins team preview
Coaches Poll Rank: #13
Team Overview: Returning almost their entire starting lineup from a year ago - including four fifth-year starters Payton Shimoda, Alyshia Bryks, Arden Butler and Kara Frith - the Griffins are primed to contend for a playoff spot in 2025-26. Their promising incoming recruiting class also includes veteran Douglas College PAC West all stars Alana Murr and Anna von Krosigk, headlining a deep group that will keep the Griffins competitive for seasons to come.
From the coach: "We're excited about the balance and depth of this year's group, blending experienced returners with talented new faces across all positions." - Chris Wandler
Key Performer: Payton Shimoda
Setter | 5th Year | Edmonton, Alta.
The linchpin of the Griffins' attack, fifth-year veteran Shimoda can be a difference-maker for the Griffins as one of the top setters in the conference, consistently able to set a varied offence.
After breaking the program record for the most career assists by a Griffins setter last season (currently sitting at 2,144), Shimoda returns for her final season with the Canada West all-time career list in sight. She is 797 assists back of the top-10.
