Jason Hills
For MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON — Sometimes when you look back on a win, it's those little moments that don't always make the highlight reels that can make the difference.
For the MacEwan Griffins, it came down to some big serving moments from the likes of Lauren Tensen, Tess Weber and Ella Black that was the key to a thrilling five set win (19-25, 25-15, 25-15, 18-25, 15-10) over the Calgary Dinos on Friday night at the David Atkinson Gym.
All three may not have stats that jump off the page, but all three came up with some big serves at key times for the Griffins.
"That's their role, that's what they're really good at. They don't get enough credit, but those little pieces played a big difference in tight situations for us tonight," said Griffins head coach Chris Wandler.
MacEwan was led by 13 kills and 16 digs from Arden Butler, while Evangeline Zeyha set a career-high with 12 kills, six digs and three blocks, and setter Payton Shimoda did a masterful job spreading the ball around with 41 assists in the win for the Griffins.
Sophia Hansen led the Dinos with 21 kills and four digs, while Daisey Olsen chipped in with eight kills and three aces in the loss for Calgary.
While MacEwan dropped the opening set, a big turning point occurred in the set that really turned the momentum in favour of the Griffins.
Down 18-9, it could've been easy for the Griffins to pack it in and start focusing on the second set, but they started to dig themselves out of the big hole.
Then, Tensen, who is playing her final two games this weekend as a graduating senior, entered the match, and served up an ace, as MacEwan clawed their way back to close the gap to 21-19, before the Dinos closed out the set.
They didn't win the set, but they started to get their mojo back.
"We were a little tight to start, and a little out of sorts, but then we started to get that comfortable feeling back," said Wandler.
"Lauren went on a serving run, and that was really the start of the rest of the match. It's little things at little times."
Kara Frith carves one off the block and out in the first set.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/hWmgS5ZG2S
— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 15, 2025
MacEwan was in full control in the second and third sets never giving up a lead in the second set, and once MacEwan took the lead on back-to-back aces from Alyshia Bryks, they didn't look back in the third set.
MacEwan had nine aces through the first three sets as Bryks, Shimoda and Kara Frith all led with two each.
"We've been working on it all week, and it's been something we've been trying to get better at, and it came through today — especially Arden with some crazy cross-court serves," said Zeyha.
"Our serving really controlled the game, and Payt (Payton Shimoda) was setting some dimes, she was setting up everyone."
Alyshia Bryks hammers it down the line, part of a strong Payton Shimoda serving run that put the @MacEwanGriffins in the driver's seat in the second set.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/aBrCTIhJHF
— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 15, 2025
MacEwan had all the momentum, after the third set, and were looking to close it out in four sets, but the Dinos had other ideas.
Both teams battled back and forth, and it was very tight for the majority of the set, but Calgary was able to find some rhythm in the late stages of the set to extend the match to a fifth set.
Crafty finish by Payton Shimoda to end Set 3 in the @MacEwanGriffins' favour 25-15!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/H6yuM9YUAr
— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 15, 2025
"We had an 11-8 lead, and there was just one little stint in the fourth where we called a timeout where they went for four or five in a row, and we weren't able to get it going," said Wandler
Despite a tough fourth set loss, MacEwan hit the reset button and was able to put the Dinos away in the fifth set.
MacEwan tied the fifth set at 7-7 on a kill from Anika Buys, and then Bryks gave them a 9-7 lead after a nice kill, and a block and the Griffins didn't look back.
Weber came in to serve late in the match, and was able to put the Dinos away with a nice serving run.
"To our credit, we pushed the reset button well. Tess came in and put some (service) pressure on them, and we were able to finish them off.
"Payton was amazing with the offence. She sprinkled in enough in the middle and had Alysha on her quick ball. She had 41 assists again, she was incredible."
JOUST FOR THE WIN!
— GriffinsWVB (@GriffinsWVB) February 15, 2025
Evangeline Zeyha wins a net battle with authority to put this one away for the @MacEwanGriffins in the fifth set!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/sw4DratHIg
Zeyha said she was confident after losing the fourth set, they would be able to pull it out in the fifth. It just took a little pep talk from their captain in the huddle.
"Right when the fourth set ended, Payton came in and right away said next set. We've got to wash that out, and AJ (Mahoney, Griffins' assistant coach) does a really good job of getting us to reset," said Zeyha.
"We just said, it's one set, we have to move on now."
For Zeyha, the Griffins rookie entered the weekend needing 17 kills to reach the century mark in her first season. Now, she's just five away from reaching that mark, with one game remaining.
"I was really psyched for it. I am trying to get 17 by the end of the weekend, so I can end the season with 100 kills, it was my goal to have a good night tonight, so tomorrow, I have a little less pressure," smiled Zeyha.
"Payton set me up with some really good balls, and I thought our passing was really good. It was a team effort that helped me get those kills."
MacEwan will wrap up their season with their final match on Saturday against Calgary (3 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).
