Griffins leave it all on the floor but come up short in Game 3 as UFV wins series 2-1

Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – In the end, there was nothing left to give.

The four Griffins women's volleyball graduating seniors and their teammates left everything they had on the court in a gruelling 12-set best-of-three play in series that went the distance before the UFV Cascades won 3-1 (25-27, 25-20, 25-21, 25-15) on Sunday to decide it.

Payton Shimoda, Alyshia Bryks, Kara Frith and Arden Butler can be proud of their final university match, even if it didn't end with a win.

"They all left it all on the court," said Griffins head coach Chris Wandler. "There wasn't an ounce of energy, tears or sweat – they definitely did everything they could today. Like I said to them after the match, they leave the program in a way better place than when they started – being good teammates, being great role models on and off the court, being in the weight room, pushing themselves and just leading by example. 

"I'm a very proud coach and very proud to have coached Alyshia, Kara, Arden and Payton the last three years."

Shimoda tied a program record on Sunday with 37 assists, matching Kylie Schubert's mark from 2020 for the most by a Griffin in a Canada West playoff match. 

"She had it going all weekend," said Wandler. "She followed the game plan and sometimes she'd have to go a little bit off script because of the quality of our passing. I couldn't say enough about her defensive play. Just an outstanding performance by Payton in every component of the game."

Kara Frith puts it away in a close one midway through the opening set of Game 3 in #YXX.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/eLhqS3LpVr

— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 22, 2026

Frith, meanwhile, broke the program record on Sunday for the most service aces by a Griffin in a Canada West playoff match with four, adding 11 kills, 10 digs and three blocks.

Bryks chipped in 10 kills, 14 digs and five blocks, while Butler finished with seven kills and seven digs, and Anika Buys had seven kills and six blocks.

"Kara, Alyshia and Arden on the outside pins, they scored off some blocks, there were some timely blocks, especially on Kara's part," said Wandler.

SET 1 WIN!
Alana Murr puts the decisive point away as the @MacEwanGriffins take it 27-25 - a tremendous comeback after trailing late in the set.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/diZRYhqrr7

— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 22, 2026

After winning Game 2 by a 3-1 count on Saturday, the Griffins continued to show their resiliency with an improbable comeback in Set 1 on Sunday, battling back from a 22-16 deficit to win 27-25 on their third set point opportunity when Alana Murr put it away. 

It was the fourth-straight set the Griffins won in the series, so it seemed like they were on their way, especially after opening up a 4-1 lead early in Set 2.

But the Cascades drew even at 8-8 and never looked back after it was 17-17, going on an 8-3 run, ending it on Zoe Arca's service ace.

UFV did the same thing in Set 3 as the Griffins' 7-2 early lead melted into a 10-10 tie before the Cascades gained a three-point advantage mid-set and never let the Griffins come closer, closing it out on Lauren Attieh's kill.

Arden Butler chips it off the block and down to keep the Griffins in it late in Set 3.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/cQHxtwLENa

— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 23, 2026

Set 4 was all UFV as they put the hammer down and cruised to the finish line for the win. 

"UFV just pushed a little bit more," said Wandler. "They responded. It came to a spot in the second and third set where we did have moments where we could have finished it off and we didn't get the serve or the pass that we needed to really push the limits of winning that second and third set. 

"It's a little bit draining that way, but there's another team on the other side. They played very well today. Margins are very small and they ended up taking the second and third sets. It was a very well-played, entertaining volleyball match. It just didn't go our way today."

W��| RECAP
Led by graduating seniors Payton Shimoda, Kara Frith, Alyshia Bryks & Arden Butler, @GriffinsWVB left it all on the court Sunday in a tough 3-1 loss to the @UFVCascades that ends their @CanadaWest playoff run.#GriffNation

STORY➡️https://t.co/m4fWibny3g pic.twitter.com/SmMHzMrg31

— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) February 23, 2026

Big picture, the Griffins took a step forward, though, coming the closest they ever have to winning a playoff series after scoring the program's first playoff match win on Saturday.

"I think the players that are remaining see that and they know the standard and expectation  that's needed to get to this level," said Wandler. "It's a ton of hard work. I think that's the big message left behind. It takes a lot of hard work to get to this level to be as good as Payton, Alyshia, Arden and Kara. I hope they realize it's not going to come with a snap of the fingers. It's a lot of hours in the weight room, it's a lot of hours in the gym. 

"Going through lots of adversity like this (graduating) crew has … if you think about it – three coaches in five years, that's tough. And they persevered. They're a real loyal group and it showed with the chemistry on the court."