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McNish earns rookie honours in standout season with Cougars

By Robin Wark

During her first season on the Assiniboine College women’s volleyball team, Rivers’ Payton McNish displayed talent and perseverance.

The daughter of Dana and Kenzie was named the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. The left side hitter helped the Cougars win their first-ever MCAC women’s volleyball championship. The team also competed at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Volleyball National Championship.

“It was pretty exciting to win ROTY. I worked really hard and tried my best to take in everything my coaches taught me over the season,” McNish said, “It’s a team game; without my teammates and coaches, I would not have been able to achieve that award.”

This past winter, the left-side hitter, who is in Assiniboine College’s social service worker program, was fifth in the MCAC in kills per set (2.56) and seventh in total kills with 115 in 16 matches. McNish led the conference in hitting percentage at .346 and was sixth in digs per set (2.02). She also ranked in the top 20 in service aces per set (0.36) and blocks per set (0.24).

“As Payton's confidence grew, so did her game,” Cougars head women’s volleyball coach Kevin Neufeld said. “She was voted as the league’s top rookie, most noticeably as a scorer, but her backrow game was also very solid. Her length allows her to make some digs others don't get. She worked hard to create new shots, change speeds, change angles, and increase her deception to increase her ability to score.”

The Cougars defeated Winnipeg’s Canadian Mennonite University in two straight matches (3-1 and 3-0, both on their home court) to win their first MCAC championship.

McNish said: “Coming in as a rookie, winning the MCAC championship was a big deal. I am so proud of our team and excited for the Cougars program. We worked really hard all season, and it paid off.”

In the first match of the finals, on Feb. 28, McNish was second on the team with 13 kills and also recorded a team-best three service aces. However, after the match, she went to the hospital due to neck swelling.

“I had some symptoms starting a couple days before and then spent time in the hospital overnight after the first match of the finals,” McNish said. “I ended up with an infection that caused swelling to the lymph nodes in my neck and tonsil, as well as major swelling around my eyes and just overall fatigue. I was released from the hospital in time to be at the game on Sunday, but was not able to dress. Wish I could have played but I knew our team had enough depth that we were still capable of winning.”

Unfortunately, McNish was still unwell at nationals, which were held in Niverville. She persevered to compete and the Cougars went 1-2. They won their final match, 3-1 over the host Providence University College Pilots. McNish contributed four kills and three digs in that contest.

Regarding nationals, McNish said she was “not able to play and compete the way I would have liked to for my team.”

However, she said, “It was a great experience to be able to represent the MCAC and get to compete against the best teams in the CCAA at nationals. It was fun to be able to share this time with my teammates and coaches, I just enjoyed taking it all in and spending those last moments with the graduating players."