Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The gauntlet of tough opponents that the Griffins women's volleyball team is running to start the season continues this weekend as they host cross-town rival Alberta.
The team is coming in off a bye week but prior to that opened the season against Trinity Western (No. 4 in the Canada West coaches poll) and UBC Okanagan (No. 7), so they've been battle-tested early.
Injuries and off-season departures have hit the Griffins hard as they've gone from a playoff team a year ago to an 0-4 start. Alberta is similarly near the bottom of the standings at 1-3, so it sets up as a matchup of two teams trying to get on track.
The bye week offered a refresher for the Griffins, who have just two-and-a-half starters back from last season (Payton Shimoda, Alyshia Bryks and a starting spot that was split between Danielle Jodoin and Arden Butler in 2023-24).
"A little bit of reset, refocus, get back to work," said head coach Chris Wandler of the bye week. "It was a little bit of just refining some things and being a little bit more clear on what we want to do tactically.
"I think that will give us an opportunity to progress, not just this weekend, but the following few weeks moving into even more long term."
On Tap
Friday: Alberta at MacEwan, 5 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV
Saturday: Alberta at MacEwan, 3 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV
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Standings
MacEwan: 0-4 – 14th
Alberta: 1-3 – T10th
Last meeting
Feb. 3, 2024: Alberta 3 at MacEwan 0
Last game
MacEwan: Oct. 26 – L, 3-0 at UBC Okanagan
Alberta: Nov. 2 – W, 3-2 vs. Manitoba
Chris Wandler's coach's quote
"The ability to compete for a whole match is going to be important for us. Being able to defend is going to be a really important part and serving the ball more effectively is a big part of our game. So, we're looking to accomplish those two things."
Players to watch
MacEwan: Evangeline Zeyha – The transfer from Northwest Polytechnic is beginning to hit her stride with the Griffins. In the first match of their last road trip to visit UBC Okanagan, she posted eight kills on a .375 hitting percentage, and added two aces and three blocks in her first Canada West start.
Alberta: Abby Guezen – The second-year outside hitter had 20 kills in her last match, leading the Pandas to a thrilling 3-2 win over defending Canada West champion Manitoba last weekend. For the season, she's tied for 11th in the conference in kills/set with 2.93.
Notable
The Griffins will be aiming for their first win over the Pandas since Jan. 17, 2020 when a veteran MacEwan team that would go on to make the Canada West playoffs for the first time in program history won 3-1 in the David Atkinson Gym … MacEwan setter Payton Shimoda needs one service ace to reach 50 for her career … Alyshia Bryks recently reached 250 career kills and 250 career digs … Arden Butler recently reached 250 career points.