SJO wins home volleyball match, faces in the crowd

SJO's Maroon Platoon making themselves known to the waiting Panthers at the start of the game.

A spectator closely watches set one action of the Spartans' home volleyball match against PBL.

On the left, SJO volleyball players engage in an interesting conversation. On the right, two fans pose for pictures on the gym floor after the Spartans beat visiting Paxton-Buckley-Loda in straight sets, 2-0. (All photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Student fans and SJO volleyball players celebrate the team's 12 victory of the season, a 2-0 win over PBL, after the game near the student section.

Paxton-Buckley-Loda fans display a look of concern for their team as the Spartans pound the ball into the mid-court. See more match photos here . . .

Spectators talk after the Spartans match. SJO home matches are always a great place to meet up with friends, family and other fans. Click here to see more than 300 photos of St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball coverage by PhotoNews Media.

More postgame photos with friends and athletes. Nothing better than a home win to put a smile on everyone's face.

SJO beats PBL, tough volleyball schedule continues

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks) Lindsey Aden celebrates a point for SJO in the second set of the team's match against Paxton-Buckley-Loda. Aden tallied six digs in the 2-0 win by the Spartans. See more photos from this match here: SJO vs Paxton-Buckley-Loda.

The St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball is playing one of the most grueling portions of their 2019 schedule. SJO was back in action yesterday after a five-match day on Saturday and a match they cruised to victory in just 24 hours earlier on Monday to face Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Tuesday.

Kennedi Burnett led the Spartans with nine of the team 42 digs in an exciting defensive battle that tested the starting line-up's mental and physical resilience after playing six matches in three days.

Thanks to nine kills from middle blocker Lacey Kaiser, plus seven from Burnett and the same number from Katelyn Berry, SJO improved to 12-3 on the season after declawing the Panthers, 2-0.

Emily Bigger was credited with 26 assists.

And the tribulation isn't quite over yet. Tonight, in a few hours, the lady Spartans host Danville in a non-conference, non-division match-up before a well-deserved four day reprieve to heal and prepare for the next chapter in this year's campaign.

The St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team will then play six matches in nine days starting next Monday, September 23, starting on the road at Urbana High School and ending with an Illini Prairie showdown at home versus Bloomington Central Catholic on October 2.

Left: Lacey Kaiser leaps above the net to attempt a block on a kill attempt by Paxton-Buckley-Loda's Jasmine Miles during second set action on Tuesday. Right: Emily Bigger sets the ball as teammate Katelyn Berry moves in position behind her. See, share or order photos from this match here: Spartans vs Panthers. (Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)