Unity tournament champions!

Photo: PhotoNews Media Archive

Emma Bleecher waits for a serve during Unity's road game against St. Joseph-Ogden on September 21. The senior collected 41 kills, 34 digs and 11 aces over five matches to help the Rockets win this season's Lady Warrior Classic title at Reed-Custer High School on Saturday.

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The Unity volleyball team dropped just one set on their way to winning the Lady Warrior Classic volleyball tournament title on Saturday. Winning all five matches, the Rockets now boast a 20-0 record.

Cissna Park was the only team that challenged this season's so far undefeated squad during tournament play. After dropping the first set 25-10, the Timberwolves adjusted their offense and won the second set 25-15. Tightening up their play, Unity won the tie-break set, 15-10.

The Rockets defeated Morris in two sets, 25-20, 25-21, and cruised by Dwight 25-5, 25-13. They also went 2-0 against Putnam County (25-13, 25-13) and Maroa-Forsyth (25-15, 25-10).

Emma Bleecher notched 41 kills, 34 digs and served up 11 aces for Unity during the five tournament contests. Payton Kaiser led the team in blocks with seven. She also added 17 kills and eight digs to her season stats.

Three-sport standout Taylor Henry amassed 46 digs and Macie Knudsen added another 22 along with her 20 tournament kills. Setter Maddie Reed tallied up 57 assists and another 20 digs for the Rockets.

Unity's two matches are on the road week. Bleecher and the Rockets travel to St. Teresa tomorrow to take on the Bulldogs and then head to Monticello on Tuesday for an Illini Prairie Conference battle.

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Friday night football, St. Joseph-Ogden 60 - Olympia 36

The St. Joseph-Ogden football team picked up their second win of the season after defeating Olympia on the road 60-36 picked up their second win of the season after scoring nine touchdowns in their Week 5 road game against Olympia.

Keaton Nolan ran for 193 yards and tacked on another 55 on pass plays. The senior scored three times including on a 5-yard run, a 15-yard run, and on a 16-yard pass play. SJO gobbled up 281 yards on the ground and finished with another 182 passing yards.

Senior quarterback Evan Ingram completed 14 of 15 passes, five which resulted in touchdowns. In addition to Nolan's TD pass, Griffin Roesch scored on a 36-yard play, Tyler Burch hauled in a 26-yarder and Coby Miller scored twice on passes from seven and two yards out.

SJO improves to 3-2 on the season after a rough start and will face Bloomington Central Catholic, who fell 41-13 to Unity a 20-minute drive to the east, at home next Friday.