The Mount Desert Island (MDI) volleyball team concluded its season in Bangor on Saturday afternoon, falling to Gardiner in the Class C state championship match, as Sun Journal reported. Top-seeded Gardiner swept the No. 3 seeded MDI squad 3-0 at Husson University, marking Gardiner's first state championship title. This contest was a rematch of the previous year's championship, where MDI had secured the Gold Ball with a 3-1 victory over Gardiner.
Gardiner claimed the first two sets with scores of 25-20 and 25-23. The Tigers then started the third set strongly, establishing an early 7-2 lead before ultimately winning the set 25-18 to complete the sweep and secure the championship.
MDI coach Whitney Walls reflected on the team's performance, telling Sun Journal that the team "played with heart." Walls acknowledged that it "wasn’t (our) best," but added, "sometimes that’s just the way it goes." Despite the outcome, the MDI coach affirmed that the team "fought hard" throughout the match.
Individual efforts for the MDI team were noted in the championship match. Janiece Anderson contributed significantly with eight kills, eight aces, and three assists. Ella Watson recorded five kills, two aces, and one assist. Cora VanDongen added one kill, four aces, and one block, while Lanaia McDaniels posted four kills and two blocks for the Mount Desert Island squad.
For Gardiner, the championship win was driven by what players described as improved energy and communication compared to their previous encounter with MDI. Gardiner's attack showcased balance, with senior middle blocker Lila Anderson providing multiple aces and kills. Outside hitter Lexi Ouellette was credited with blocking MDI attacks with precision. Another valuable player for Gardiner was Joely Cote, who blocked multiple kill attempts while also securing some kills for her team. Gardiner coach Bill Boardman also noted to Sun Journal that the team's "youth and experience meshed together is really good," fostering leadership regardless of grade level.
This championship represented a turnaround from the previous season's Class C final. Last year, MDI had defeated Gardiner in a 3-1 match to earn the state title. This year's sweep by Gardiner prevented MDI from defending its championship. The Gardiner team expressed a strong desire to win this year, citing their renewed focus and teamwork as key factors in their performance against MDI. While the MDI team fought hard, Gardiner's determined effort led to a decisive victory in the Class C state championship.