Volleyball team revels in Senior Night victory

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Moving to 25-4 on the season, the SJO volleyball team knock off visiting Olympia 2-0.

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 by Clark Brooks
Sports Writer

ST. JOSEPH – Lindsey Aden went out in style at her final home volleyball game. The senior delivered three aces in St. Joseph-Ogden’s 2-0 victory over visiting Olympia on Tuesday night. Notching their 10th consecutive win, the maroon- and Columbia blue-clad Spartans now boast an impressive 25-4 record as the regular season draws to a close.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

While her father Mark smiles holding one of her many mementos, Emily Bigger receives a kiss from her mother Melissa during SJO's senior night recognition on Tuesday prior to the start of volleyball team's final home match of the season. Bigger, a four-year volleyball veteran, is also involved in Spanish Club, FCA, National Honor Society and the school's Advisory Mentoring Program. She and eight other seniors received gifts and were thank for their contribution to program's success over the past four seasons.

Katelyn Berry, one of nine seniors honored earlier during the Senior Night recognition ceremony, led SJO with a match-high 10 kills. The four-year veteran was also credited with three digs.

"It's so weird, so sad, honestly," said Berry, who was multitasking between processing the first of many milestones of her senior year and celebrating her team's victory. "It felt good to get the win."

It was nearly an even matchup for the first half of the opening set until the home team blasted seven unanswered points to go up 18-11. After allowing their opponent six more points, SJO closed out the set with a down-the-line boomer from junior Kennedi Burnett for a 25-17 finish.

"We started off slow but came back," Berry said, analyzing the opening set. "We need to work on starting out stronger."

In a mirrored start of the first set, SJO dropped the first point of the second and let Olympia take a 3-1 lead. The Spartans trailed for just three of the next 20 exchanges until the score reached 10-all.

"We kept our composure," said head coach Abby McDonald, whose program improved to 7-1, second in the Illini Prairie Conference behind St. Thomas More. "We played a mature match, and we made it count when we needed to."

Calm and self-assured, McDonald’s team turned up the intensity, collecting five points for every one they relinquished to the visiting Spartans. Olympia called a timeout at 19-12, hoping the break would shift the momentum back to their side of the court, but it was too late.

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Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

LEFT: Brodie Sullivan leads fellow football players and volleyball fans in singing Sweet Caroline before the start of St. Joseph-Ogden's last home match of the season. RIGHT: Senior Katelyn Berry puts the ball away during set two of SJO's home match against Olympia. SJO play their final conference match of the season at Monticello Thursday and start their postseason campaign next Tuesday at Oakwood High School.

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The Spartans were playing in the zone. In their happy place, Berry, along with Burnett and Stephanie Trame, registered four kills in the final eight points of the match, sealing their Illini Prairie Conference win, 25-14.

Burnett finished the contest with five kills, seven digs and two aces for SJO. Jenna Albrecht added four more kills, and Emily Bigger tallied 24 assists. Fellow senior Kenly Taylor contributed five digs and an ace in the home court finale.

Olympia’s offense was led by juniors Abby Stine and Bella Dickhut, who each had four kills. Senior Kaelyn Leverson recorded 20 assists. The Spartans fall to 4-4 in the conference and 15-13 overall.

St. Joseph-Ogden, which has lost just one road match out of 13 this season, squares off next at Monticello (19-13) in the final IPC match of the season. The Sages boast a 7-1 record at home going into tomorrow night’s contest.

McDonald is eagerly looking forward to the match in Monticello and competing in the annual Mt. Pulaski tournament this weekend. SJO will face Mt. Zion and Illini Central in pool play on Saturday morning.

"I think this group plays much better on the road," she said.