Burnett, Steinbach key as SJO volleyball wraps up season this week

Normally, 20 matches in a season means a high school volleyball team
is just rounding into form, ready to make a postseason push.

Which the St. Joseph-Ogden program is familiar with after placing
second in state in Class 2A in 2016 and third in 2A in 2019.

But no postseason exists this truncated spring season for high school
volleyball teams in Illinois because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So when
SJO is scheduled to hit its 20th match at 7 p.m. Friday night at home
against Teutopolis, it will mark the end of the season instead.

Still, playing 20 matches in 40 days amid a pandemic is an impressive
feat. Especially because SJO has played so well. The Spartans carry a
15-3 record, including 10-2 in the Illini Prairie Conference, into
Thursday’s 7 p.m. Illini Prairie match at Monticello.

WHAT’S HAPPENED
SJO 2, Olympia 0 (April 20)
SJO swept the season series against Olympia with a 25-15, 25-19 Illini
Prairie win at home. The victory extended SJO’s win streak to three
straight.
Junior Kennedi Burnett recorded nine kills and eight kills, while
senior Payton Vallee compiled six kills and 13 digs. Junior Rebecca
Steinbach distributed 25 assists and made six digs, while junior
Hannah Fox (nine digs) and freshman Rachel Divan (six kills) also
factored significantly into the match.

SJO 2, Chillicothe IVC 1 (April 15)
In a close match throughout, SJO outlasted the Grey Ghosts to the tune
of a 25-22, 21-25, 28-26 win in Illini Prairie action. Vallee and
Burnett each compiled double-doubles to spark the Spartans. Burnett
finished with 17 kills and 10 digs, while Vallee held her own with 13
kills and 10 digs. Steinbach nearly reached a double-double, too, by
handing out 33 assists and making eight digs. Hannah Fox was also key
in the win with 14 digs.

SJO 2, Prairie Central 0 (April 13)
The Spartans went on the road to Fairbury and brought home a 25-15,
25-16 win in Illini Prairie action. Burnett nearly delivered a
double-double for SJO in the road victory with nine kills and 10 digs
to go along with one ace. Sophomore Shayne Immke also came through
with seven kills and three digs, while Vallee added six kills and five
digs. Steinbach directed the offense to the tune of 22 assists, while
Fox also chipped in with 10 digs and two aces.

St. Thomas More 2, SJO 0 (April 12)
The Spartans kept it competitive with the Sabers in this Illini
Prairie match in St. Joseph, but STM left with a 25-22, 25-22 victory.
Steinbach compiled a double-double with 22 assists and 10 digs, while
Burnett was the top offensive option with 13 kills to go along with
nine digs and one ace. Vallee also registered double-digit kills with
10 and six digs. Fox (16 digs) and Divan (one block, one kill) also
contributed.

WHAT’S AHEAD
Only two more matches this spring, with SJO playing at Monticello at 7
p.m. Thursday before hosting Teutopolis at 7 p.m. on Friday in its
regular-season finale. The Spartans have won eight of their last nine
matches entering Thursday night’s showdown with the Sages.