Strout sisters, Walls propel MDI Undefeated Trojans collect sweep of first-year Sumner program

NORTHEAST HARBOR – Monday afternoon’s volleyball match between Sumner of East Sullivan and Mount Desert Island matched two programs on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The MDI Trojans, a perennial volleyball power, brought a 7-0 record into the match despite losing several key players from last year’s team.

The Sumner Tigers are a first-year varsity program searching for an identity and a first-ever match victory.

The end result was predictable as the Trojans swept the Tigers away 25-9, 25-14, and 25-17, but by the time the third game was played it didn’t look a mismatch anymore.

“We tend to play better and up our level of play against the better teams,” said Sumner coach Todd Emerson. “The downside is we aren’t winning and unfortunately, our level of play also goes down against lesser teams.”

The 0-8 Tigers were right in the thick of things through most of the back-and-forth third game, even taking a 17-16 lead, but several mental miscues and communication breakdowns quickly reversed their momentum and MDI reeled off nine straight to close the match out.

“That’s typical for what you see with a new team, and people don’t realize how quickly momentum can change in volleyball,” said MDI coach Todd Brophy. “He’s got some very good players, but it’s tough when you’re brand new.”

It’s even tougher when your opponent has been the state’s runner-up the last three seasons.

The Trojans look like a solid bet to return to the state final for a fourth straight year, judging from their 8-0 mark and a lineup that’s young, but also versatile and capable.

“We really work together very well and pretty much have since preseason,” said senior setter Melanie Strout, who had three assists and two digs Monday. “We also have lots of players who can play different positions and just about every one of them is a good hitter too.”

They’re pretty good at serving and defending as well. Strout, sophomore hitter and sister Mollie Strout, and junior back row player Whitney Walls were a combined 43-for-47 serving in Monday’s match.

“All things being equal, I think the best thing we’ve done is defense, but we’re serving at 90 to 91 percent right now and my goal is always 90, so we’re doing very well in that area,” Brophy said.

The Trojans are coming off a weekend exhibition tournament performance in which they finished as the silver medalist with a 7-2 record at the Maine Games in Cumberland Center to gold medalist and five-time defending state champ Greely, which also went 7-2.

“This is pretty much a brand new team with more than half of us new players,” said Walls, who led MDI with eight aces Monday. “I think that tournament and beating Woodland a week and a half ago has really given us some confidence.”

Sumner’s standouts included Kayla Higgins, who was 7-for-10 serving with five digs, three assists and two kills; Cassie Anderson (7-for-7, three assists, three digs, 1 kill) and Tiffany Roberts (5-for-8, five digs, three kills).

Mollie Strout, who is playing organized volleyball with Melanie for the first time, was 13-for-13 with three aces, four kills and a dig.

H.S. volleyball

MATCH STATS

At Northeast Harbor

Mount Desert Island (8-0) def. Sumner (0-8) 25-9, 25-14, 25-17

MDI individuals: Whitney Walls (22-for-25 serving, eight aces, two assists, one kill, one dig), Mollie Strout (13-for-13, three aces, four kills, one dig), Melanie Strout (8-for-9, three assists, two digs)

Sumner: Tiffany Roberts (5-for-8, five digs, three kills), Kayla Higgins (7-for-10, five digs, 3 assists, two kills), Cassandra Anderson (7-for-7, three assists, three digs, one kill)

JV: MDI def. Sumner 25-15, 25-23, 15-13