Sandman Player of the Month: Shimoda led Griffins WVB team to historic first playoff win
February 27, 2026

Sandman Player of the Month: Shimoda led Griffins WVB team to historic first playoff win

Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – After finishing her career with a flourish, leading the Griffins women's volleyball team to its first Canada West playoff win, setter Payton Shimoda has been named the Sandman Signature Downtown Edmonton Player of the Month for February.

As the Griffins' top student-athlete for the month, she receives a free night's stay at the Sandman Signature Downtown Edmonton Hotel.

Shimoda wrapped up her illustrious five-year career with the Griffins by recording 152 assists in five February matches, including three playoff games at the UFV Cascades.

On Feb. 21, her 36-assist effort led the Griffins to a 3-1 win in Game 2 of their best-of-three play-in series – the historic first Canada West playoff win in program history.

A night later, in the Griffins' 3-1 loss, Shimoda had 37 assists, tying the program record for the most by a MacEwan women's volleyball player in a Canada West playoff match.

"She just knew in order for us to be successful we needed to have a balanced offence," said Griffins head coach Chris Wandler. "It couldn't just be Alyshia (Bryks), it couldn't just be Kara (Frith). The middles chipped in when they could. Arden (Butler) was solid. You could just see what her team needed at the time and Payton just did it. 

"Payton does Payton things. She just recognizes the moment and executes."

Shimoda also recorded 47 digs in five February matches as her excellent defensive acumen was on full display. She added two aces, five blocks and three kills during the month.

Wandler noted his captain brought much more than just on-court stats, though.

"What stands out is her leadership," he said. "Whether it's in a timeout, in a workout, in practice or on the bus, Payton's reach on everybody is significant. 

"I just love the example she uses, the sense of calm in a middle of a game when it's going nuts. She doesn't show anything bothering her. It's like that duck in the water – her feet could be going a million miles an hour but (you wouldn't know it). Just that sense of calmness really elevated our game.

"I couldn't be any prouder of her."

Shimoda wrapped up her career with a program record 2,769 regular season assists – 17th in Canada West history – and added another 165 of them in the playoffs.

"People are just looking at the numbers and going 'man, that's a remarkable athlete out there,' " said Wandler. "But what they don't know is the work she has to do to get the numbers. She does everything committed in the off-season to get her to that point. I wasn't here when she got recruited, but that stuff was engrained in her right from the very start. She worked her tail off for five years straight in behind the scenes. 

"She can leave her head high, and she leaves the program in a way different spot than when she arrived."