Graduating Seniors Q&A: Shimoda, Bryks, Frith and Butler set for final home regular season weekend

Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – A seasoned group of four women's volleyball graduating seniors will be playing the final home regular season games of their Griffins careers in the David Atkinson Gym this weekend.

Payton Shimoda, Alyshia Bryks, Kara Frith and Arden Butler will be looking to close out their final seasons with a playoff berth. This weekend's series will have a big bearing on that aim as the 5-11 Griffins welcome the 3-13 Brandon Bobcats (Friday, 5 p.m. and Saturday, 3 p.m., both Canada West TV).

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With four matches remaining, MacEwan is currently tied for ninth in Canada West with fellow 5-11 teams UBC Okanagan, Winnipeg and Regina, but are actually in 11^th – just outside of the top-10 needed to make the post-season – on points tiebreakers.

Needless to say, both matches this weekend are must wins for the Griffins.

Following Saturday's match, the team will honour Shimoda, Bryks, Frith and Butler in a post-game graduating seniors ceremony.

"From the very start, they came in extremely young when Ken Briggs recruited all of them," said Griffins head coach Chris Wandler of the program's former bench boss. "Their first year they went through a lot of adversity and hard times as a young group in Canada West. 

"They're a very talented group, but that just goes to show those four ended up here in their fifth year – Alyshia, her sixth. Just seeing this program through to the other side is a testament to their loyalty, their commitment and their competitive drive."

Read Q&As with all four graduating seniors below:

Setter Payton Shimoda needs just three assists this weekend to crack the top 20 in Canada West history (Jefferson Hagen photo).

Payton Shimoda

Chris Wandler's coach's quote: "Her legacy doesn't end when she walks out the doors because she's impacted everyone she's come into contact with in her five years. Her mark is going to be all over this program for years to come, not just the five years that she played. I think that just goes to the person and the character of Payton Shimoda."

Q&A with Payton Shimoda:

What are you graduating with and when?

"I'll be graduating with my Bachelors of Commerce with a major in Legal Studies and minor in Psychology at the end of the semester."

Do you have a career goal in mind?

"Yeah, I'm starting law at the U of A in the fall."

Do you have plans to keep playing volleyball?

"I think I'll keep playing in the co-ed world, maybe a little bit of beach, but nothing too crazy."

You hold the record for the most assists in program history, passing some really good setters we've had at MacEwan, but this weekend you need three assists to crack the top 20 in Canada West history. What does it mean to you to have accomplished all of that?

"It's a cool goal to have done in my fifth year because it's something I didn't really know about or foresee. Seeing how many people contributed throughout my years – Sarah (McGee) gave me this many assists, Mariah (Bereziuk) gave me this many, Dana (Dunbar) gave me this many and the other girls gave me this many. It kind of represents a lot of the relationships that I've had with different teammates over the years, so that's kind of special."

What stands out as some of your favourite memories of your time with the Griffins?

"I would say going to Montreal last year and going to Halifax this year are pretty wonderful memories. Having time to explore the city with my teammates. 

"We got stranded once in Kamloops when it was minus-40 and all 20 of us are in a hotel room just watching Lord of the Rings. Just the misadventures within our travel schedule stand out to me and turned out to be really good times for all of us. 

"Even this season, we were in Winnipeg over the break for a tournament and we had this terrible schedule, but there was a conference room where we turned the lights off and all went under the tables and took a nap. Just those things – fun team memories."

In the classroom, you've always been focused on excellence there with four-straight U SPORTS Academic All Canadians and I'm sure you're on track for a fifth. If you get it, you'd join a group of only 16 others who've had at least five in MacEwan history. What does your academic success mean to you?

"I would say it has a lot to do with our team culture of holding each other accountable. I've had a great buddy in Kara (Frith). We've had a lot of classes together and have had a lot of time spent studying together, so it's nice to have community with that. Just the professors within my program are just excellent. I feel like I'm learning things I like and that's been motivating."

What do you think you're legacy with the program is?

"I would say my work ethic and my love for my teammates and just prioritizing those two things?"

Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time as a Griffin?

"I'm just incredibly grateful to the program – the coaches, the admin, the support staff, the game day staff, my teammates past and present. It's just made a program I've wanted to be a part of. I'm just feeling really grateful these last couple of weeks for the last half a decade of my life, which is kind of crazy."

Alyshia Bryks is glad she returned for a sixth season (fifth of eligibility) as she broke the program's single game points record (Taylor Lafond photo).

Alyshia Bryks

Chris Wandler's coach's quote: "A lightning right arm, a thunderbolt. But besides that, it's her presence and her reliability. Everyone can rely on her to be the same consistent Alyshia game after game. That's pretty important."

Q&A with Alyshia Bryks:

What are you going to be graduating with and when?

"I'll be graduating with a Bachelor of Science with a major in chemistry and minor in biology this year."

Do you have a career goal in mind?

"I think I'm planning on working for a year and then trying for Veterinary Sciences."

Do you have plans to keep playing volleyball?

"Maybe in leagues, but no plans going pro."

What are some of your favourite memories from your time as a Griffin?

"Definitely the beginning of my fourth year was the team retreat we had (at Mariah Bereziuk's place). There was painting rocks, bracelet making and stuff like that. Honestly, just also meeting all these new people and making all these new friendships."

You initially weren't going to come back for your sixth year (fifth year of eligibility) but you decided late you were. Take me through what changed your mind and are you glad you returned?

"I was going to be here anyway, so I figured I might as well play. It was a week before the semester started that I decided. I texted Chris and asked to come to one of the open gyms that he had. It was very last minute. No one was expecting it. I am glad I came back. There's a lot of different personalities on this team, which has been quite fun getting to know everyone."

This season, you broke the record for most points by a Griffin in a Canada West match. What did that mean to get that mark?

"I was surprised but so proud. I'm able to leave my jersey in a better place after this year."

What do you think is the legacy you've left to the program here?

"I think I've left as a very consistent player – consistent energy, consistent playing, just even consistent stats."

Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?

"I don't know, it's just crazy to be almost done."

Kara Frith leads the Griffins in kills this season after making the switch from middle to outside (Taylor Lafond photo).

Kara Frith

Chris Wandler's coach's quote: "The ability to play multiple positions when called upon, I think that just embodies 'anything I can do for the team.' It's all about her competitive DNA. She doesn't like to lose. You wouldn't know that from talking to her, but she's an extremely competitive individual. Whatever she can do to win a match, she'll do."

Q&A with Kara Frith:

What are you going to be graduating with and when?

"I'll be graduating in April with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in management and minoring in HR."

Do you have a career goal in mind?

"Not exactly right now. I'm thinking something in HR. Right now, I have a job lined up. I'm from Grande Prairie, so when I move back, I'll probably be doing my seasonal County of Grande Prairie job. But I'm not exactly sure what I'll do after that."

Do you have plans to keep playing volleyball?

"I do eventually want to coach, and I would like to play rec league. I do like to play beach volleyball, too."

When you look back at your time with the Griffins, what are some of your favourite memories?

"I would say just travelling with the team and I think my favourite game was against U of C in my third year. It was like our first game of the season and we beat them."

You obviously starting playing the middle and now you're flourishing as an outside hitter. Your kills numbers have skyrocketed this year. What has that journey been like?

"For sure, it's different. I just enjoy being an outside attacker more just because I get to serve receive and play more defence. There are pros and cons. Of course, there are a lot more different attacks you can do in the middle. So, I like the diversity of the position, but I just like left side more because of the defence."

What is your legacy with the program? How will you be remembered?

"I would like to be remembered as someone who worked hard for their position and was dedicated – just a good teammate."

Do you have anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?

"I'm grateful for my teammates, my coaches, my boyfriend, my friends and also if you can shout out my parents. They're the main reason I got this far in my volleyball career."

Arden Butler holds the program record for the best efficiency by a Griffins player in a Canada West playoff match from her performance against UFV in 2024 (Taylor Lafond photo).

Arden Butler

Chris Wandler coach's quote: "I think her willingness to stay ready and keep working has really defined Arden. She is extremely loyal to the program and that's deeply appreciated. Just stay ready – that's Arden. Everybody finds her to be a person they can go to and chat with just to have a good laugh and bring humour to the team. She's an important part of our team."

Q&A with Arden Butler:

What are you going to be graduating with and when?

"I'm graduating this spring with a Bachelor of Arts, major in sociology and minor in psychology."

Do you have a career goal in mind?

"Yeah, it actually doesn't even have to do with that. I've been thinking either marketing in business, so going back (for more education) or I've been thinking about being a retail buyer, going and travelling and being the eye for a company."

Do you have plans to keep playing volleyball?

"Not really. I think (I'm done). Maybe some women's league down the road."

What are some of your favourite memories from your time as a Griffin?

"I feel like I have a lot of off-the-court memories of making a lot of really good friends. A good moment for us was my third year when we made it to the playoffs. That was really cool."

Any particular shot or moment stand out for you?

"That was a cool moment for me because I think that was the game where I broke the hitting efficiency record (.273 vs. UFV on Feb. 24, 2024 – the best by a Griffin in a post-season contest). So, it was cool for it to be in a playoff match."

This season, you've kind of been in and out of the lineup. What's that been like to stay ready to go?

"It's definitely been a new experience, but it's good supporting my teammates. Obviously, it's hard when you're going in and out to stay ready when you're off the court. But I'm still there supporting teammates."

That's a big thing. The four of you graduating seniors have been here a long time. What's that been like to grow together?

"It's been really cool. Payton and I have played together from club volleyball in U13 and we played together in high school. It's kind of been a whole experience. It's been cool with Kara and Alyshia kind of growing as people together. You can see how people have come out of their shell and are just vocal and more confident, on and off the court."

What do you think is your legacy with the program?

"Hopefully being a good teammate and just someone who works hard, did my best and had fun on the court."

Do you have anything else you'd like to say about your time as a Griffin?

"Just that I've really enjoyed my experience. There's been a lot of ups and downs, but I feel I've grown as a person since coming into university and now leaving. It's been really cool making a lot of new friendships and having the team as a support system."