January 23, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Kaiser, Albrecht spark latest win by SJO volleyball

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School volleyball team kept right on rolling Monday night after placing second this past Saturday at the 16-team Bulldog Invitational hosted by Mahomet-Seymour.

The Spartans drilled Hoopeston Area 25-5, 25-5 to earn a home nonconference win on Monday night, their sixth win in their last seven matches.

Senior Lacey Kaiser supplied a team-high six kills, while senior Jenna Albrecht and sophomore Kennedi Burnett each contributed five kills.

Senior Emily Bigger added 16 assists and eight digs, while senior Katelyn Berry chipped in with three kills and 11 digs.

The win on Monday came after SJO reached the championship match at the Bulldog Invitational, only losing to host Mahomet-Seymour 25-9, 25-22 in the title match.

SJO opened up its tournament stay in Mahomet in dominating fashion, defeating St. Teresa’s junior varsity team 25-10, 25-5, Springfield Southeast 25-10, 25-6 and Peotone 25-11, 25-12 in pool play. Those three wins earned the Spartans a spot in the championship bracket, with SJO knocking off Manteno 25-15, 25-18 in the semifinals before losing to M-S. Burnett represented SJO on the 12-player all-tournament team.

Prior to the Bulldog Invitational, the Spartans split a pair of nonconference matches at home last week. SJO defeated Oakwood 25-8, 25-10 last Wednesday night, but suffered a 22-25, 20-25 loss to Champaign Central last Tuesday night. The loss to Champaign Central ended a six-match win streak for SJO.

Berry paced SJO in the win against Oakwood with a team-high 10 kills, while Burnett added six kills, with Albrecht, Kaiser and junior Payton Vallee each chipping in four kills apiece. Bigger wound up with a double-double by distributing 24 assists and making 12 digs to go along with three aces. Burnett pitched in defensively with seven digs and senior Rylee Stahl also helped out with five digs to go along with two aces.

SJO (11-3) has a quick turnaround after Monday night’s win with two more nonconference matches in the next two matches, both at home. The Spartans are set to host Paxton-Buckley-Loda at 7 p.m. on Tuesday before welcoming in Danville at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Banner
Related Posts

SJO soccer ties Comets, plays Danville close

September 2, 2019

September 2, 2019

Four matches in, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team is still searching for its first victory. But the Spartans...

Jacob, Cramer and Barnes help SJO girls’ basketball top Prairie Central

January 20, 2020

January 20, 2020

Needing a big win, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team delivered last Thursday night. The Spartans stopped a...

5 Question Friday with SJO Football Head Coach Shawn Skinner

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

How has the team improved since the first game?I think the team has been as committed as you can as...

SJO boys’ track and field looks to build upon past success

April 2, 2019

April 2, 2019

Jason Retz is no stranger to success when it comes to St.Joseph-Ogden High School athletics. The sixth-year coach of the...

Ingram shines, but SJO football still seeking first win

September 17, 2021

September 17, 2021

Six wins are needed to automatically qualify a high school football team into the playoffs in Illinois. For St. Joseph-Ogden...

SJO cross-country is heading to state!

November 4, 2019

November 4, 2019

Detweiller Park, here they come. After two stellar postseason races, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ cross-country team and girls’...

5 questions with RYKER LOCKHART

March 1, 2024

March 1, 2024

How would you describe your team? Tight knit and together What is the biggest lesson you have learned this season?Don’t...

Cain, Izard spark SJO boys’ basketball past rival Rockets

January 31, 2020

January 31, 2020

Picking up a conference win, knocking off a rival on the same night and prevailing in a tight game? Sounds...

Opportunity for growth is outlook SJO boys’ track and field is taking amid pandemic

April 17, 2020

April 17, 2020

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ track and field team had competed in a few indoor meets in February and...

‘Genuine excitement’ for SJO football heading into 2019 season

August 29, 2019

August 29, 2019

Lofty expectations are attached to the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team every year. This season is no different for...

SJO girls’ basketball tips off season tonight

November 14, 2022

November 14, 2022

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team has lofty expectations each winter. This winter is no different for the...

Spartans win Toyota of Danville Classic as Jacobs earns MVP honors

December 5, 2023

December 5, 2023

How well the St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball team would fare this season without current Illinois State guard Ty Pence in...

SJO to host first-round playoff game

October 22, 2022

October 22, 2022

The St. Joseph-Ogden football team (6-3) will host Robinson (6-3) in the first round of the IHSA Class 3A football...

Plotner’s positive attitude key to success

April 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

Jillian Plotner is having an amazing track season. The St. Joseph-Ogden junior helped the 3,200 relay team win first place...

Mattsey, Knott leading SJO boys’ track and field this spring

May 13, 2021

May 13, 2021

Almost a month into its first full outdoor season since 2019 and theSt. Joseph-Ogden boys’ track and field team has...

Comments
Leave a Reply