SHS VOLLEYBALL: Fife buzzes past Sumner

After bolting to a 2-0 start in South Puget Sound League 2A volleyball, demolishing Franklin Pierce and Clover Park, an inexperienced Sumner High volleyball squad was ambushed Thursday at Fife.

After bolting to a 2-0 start in South Puget Sound League 2A volleyball, demolishing Franklin Pierce and Clover Park, an inexperienced Sumner High volleyball squad was ambushed Thursday at Fife.

“We ran into a buzz saw called the Fife Trojans and they carved us into a thousand pieces,” explained longtime Sumner coach Mike Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick said his team learned where it is vulnerable after losing 25-10, 25-19 and 25-4.

“We are kind of going through some growing pains in this new league and are going in blind at times against teams like Fife that we’ve never faced before,” he said.

Fitzpatrick added it is good to have an experienced setter at the helm like senior Janille Panula.

“Janille has been taking the bull by the horns so far this season,” the coach said. “She had 12 assists against Fife. She can’t do it all though, and I think this inexperienced bunch is starting to feel its way along as we go and figure that out.”

The Spartans hosted Washington High Tuesday and makes a road swing to Steilacoom Thursday before heading into the heart of its league schedule against Eatonville and White River next week.