Payton Shimoda, Women's Volleyball

EDMONTON – Wrapping up her illustrious career on the weekend in style, the Griffins’ graduating setter was the linchpin for the team in their bid to knock off the higher-seeded UFV Cascades in the opening round of the playoffs.

While the Griffins had some record-breaking performances from Alyshia Bryks (her 17 kills and 21.0 points in Saturday’s match were the most by a Griffin in a CW playoff game) and Kara Frith (her four service aces on Sunday also broke a program record), it was Shimoda who stood out as the team’s top player.

The fifth-year setter played phenomenal defence and produced 104 assists over the three matches, including matching Kylie Schubert’s program record for the most by a Griffins setter in a Canada West playoff match with 37 on Sunday.

In Friday’s 3-1 loss, Shimoda had 31 assists, nine digs and two blocks.

In Saturday’s 3-1 win, she had 36 assists, a kill, 13 digs and three blocks.

And on Sunday, to go along with 37 assists, she had a kill and seven digs.

Shimoda finishes as the Griffins’ career leader in both regular season assists (2,769 – 17^th all-time in Canada West) and playoff assists (165).