Griffins put forth solid performance in loss to Alberta before clinching playoff spot when UBCO loses
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
18 | 24 | 12 | 0 |
|
|
25 | 26 | 25 | 3 |
Team Stats
Alberta
| Game Statistics | MacEwan University | Alberta |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting % | .048 | .350 |
| Blocks | 5.0 | 12.0 |
| Digs | 31 | 39 |
| Aces | 2 | 3 |
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Although they fell 3-0 to U SPORTS No. 1 Alberta on Friday, the Griffins women's volleyball team had reason for celebration as they officially clinched a playoff spot when UBC Okanagan lost at UBC not long after.
While MacEwan is 7-12 on the season after the 25-18, 26-24, 25-12 defeat, UBCO – the last remaining team that could usurp their position in the top 10 in Canada West – dropped to 5-14 after a 3-0 loss to the Thunderbirds and can't catch the Griffins anymore.
"It's quite the accomplishment by our team," said Griffins women's volleyball head coach Chris Wandler. "We set a goal this year to make the playoffs and the girls have played really well down the stretch to make that happen."
Where the Griffins will finish will be meted out on Saturday after their final match of the regular season at Alberta (5 p.m., Saville Centre, Canada West TV), but they are currently in 10th and can't fall further than that. It's likely they'll visit UFV (9-10) or Calgary (8-11) in a best-of-three play-in series next weekend.
What's more important is the Griffins are playing their best volleyball, which is certainly the case. Don't let Friday's score fool you as the margins of the Pandas' victory were small.
If not for a bunch of missed serves in a row in Set 1, the Griffins might have had a better fate.
Alyshia Bryks forces extra points in the second set with a huge cross-court kill!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/fAtzpiWl38
— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 14, 2026
And MacEwan led almost the entirety of Set 2 before the Pandas snuck out the late points.
"As far as percentages go, I'd say that we played the best volleyball we've played for 75 per cent of that match," said Wandler. "They went on a little bit of a run in the first set and that was the difference.
"In the second set, we just missed siding out on a couple rotations where we ran a really good offence and we just missed. That's how close it was for siding out.
"Then in the third set, we let the pass game get away from us for a few points. Our air in the balloon kind of expired a little bit. But we battled back. We'll be better tomorrow."
Kara Frith and Alyshia Bryks each had eight kills to pace the Griffins, while Payton Shimoda had 21 assists and libero Kaitlin Rolph was fantastic with 11 digs.
Anika Buys' quick hitter in the middle snares the first point over the Saville Centre!
— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 14, 2026
The @MacEwanGriffins are up against #YEG rival @PandasVB. Tune in on @CanadaWest TV.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/muHufrWlAH
"Kaitlin Rolph played really well," said Wandler. "She controlled the first contact and defended really well. I thought our middle blockers – Anika (Buys) and Alana (Murr) – were on point early. It was a collective effort, but it starts off with our first contact by Kaitlin."
Regardless of the result on Friday, it's the type of play the Griffins will need if they are to find success in their first post-season run since 2023-24.
"You bet," said Wandler of being able to build off of it. "I think that's what we said. These last few weekends have all been playoff matches for us. We talked about having a playoff-like mindset and regardless of the result this weekend, we want to go in playing our best volleyball of the season. Regardless of where we go or who we play next weekend, we'll know that we're playing some really good volleyball."
