September 18, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Roesch, Immke power SJO volleyball in latest win


Thanks to Kelso Heating and Cooling for sponsoring our sports recaps.

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School volleyball team has performed well on the court this season.

One key reason? The Spartans have avoided any sort of losing streak.

SJO (15-4, 3-2 Illini Prairie Conference) carries a two-match win streak into Tuesday night’s home match with Prairie Central in Illini Prairie action.

The Spartans traveled to Catlin last Thursday and came home with a 25-17, 25-20 nonconference win against Salt Fork. Becca Steinbach distributed 22 assists and five digs, with Addison Roesch having eight kills to go along with two blocks and two digs. Kennedi Burnett added six kills and 12 digs, while Shayne Immke was also a force at the net with eight kills, two blocks and five digs. Hannah Fox served three aces while finishing with seven digs and two assists.

On a night where they honored the late Dick Duval by raising money to support a scholarship in the former SJO coach and athletic director’s name, SJO defeated Monticello 25-7, 26-24 on Oct. 5 at home. Roesch had a team-high seven kills and two aces, while Burnett supplied steady serving with five aces, four kills and four digs. Immke (three aces),Steinbach (15 assists, three digs) and Fox (nine digs) also contributed.

SJO started October with a 25-14, 25-15 loss at Tri-Valley on Oct. 4. The nonconference defeat featured five kills from Roesch, 11 assists and seven digs from Steinbach, three kills and six digs from Burnett and four digs and an ace from Fox.

SJO ended September with a 25-7, 25-15 home win against Rantoul on Sept. 30. Burnett finished with a double-double by compiling 10 kills and 10 digs to go along with three blocks. Steinbach (20 assists, four digs), Roesch (four kills, four digs, two aces) and Divan (three kills) all chipped in.

Prior to the Rantoul win, SJO defeated GCMS 25-11, 25-16 on Sept. 27 in Gibson City. Burnett nearly finished with a double-double by producing nine kills and 12 digs to go along with five aces. Steinbach handed out 22 assists, while Roesch and Divan each added five kills. Hannah Fox chipped in defensively with eight digs.

After a home loss to Unity on Sept. 21, SJO got back on the winning track with a 25-16, 25-12 sweep at Pontiac on Sept. 23.
Roesch powered the offense with nine kills, with Burnett made six kills and nine digs. Steinbach (23 assists) and Fox (10 assists) also contributed.

After Tuesday’s match with Prairie Central, SJO stays home on Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. nonconference match against Fisher before ending the week with two road trips. The Spartans are set to play at Olympia at 7 p.m. on Thursday and at noon on Saturday at Chillicothe IVC.

The Spartans also learned their postseason draw recently. SJO will host a Class 2A regional, with the Spartans drawing the third seed and playing either No. 6 Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin or No. 11 Oakwood at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 in a regional semifinal match.

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School volleyball team has performed well on the court this season.

One key reason? The Spartans have avoided any sort of losing streak.

SJO (15-4, 3-2 Illini Prairie Conference) carries a two-match win streak into Tuesday night’s home match with Prairie Central in Illini Prairie action.

The Spartans traveled to Catlin last Thursday and came home with a 25-17, 25-20 nonconference win against Salt Fork. Becca Steinbach distributed 22 assists and five digs, with Addison Roesch having eight kills to go along with two blocks and two digs. Kennedi Burnett added six kills and 12 digs, while Shayne Immke was also a force at the net with eight kills, two blocks and five digs. Hannah Fox served three aces while finishing with seven digs and two assists.

On a night where they honored the late Dick Duval by raising money to support a scholarship in the former SJO coach and athletic director’s name, SJO defeated Monticello 25-7, 26-24 on Oct. 5 at home. Roesch had a team-high seven kills and two aces, while Burnett supplied steady serving with five aces, four kills and four digs. Immke (three aces),Steinbach (15 assists, three digs) and Fox (nine digs) also contributed.

SJO started October with a 25-14, 25-15 loss at Tri-Valley on Oct. 4. The nonconference defeat featured five kills from Roesch, 11 assists and seven digs from Steinbach, three kills and six digs from Burnett and four digs and an ace from Fox.

SJO ended September with a 25-7, 25-15 home win against Rantoul on Sept. 30. Burnett finished with a double-double by compiling 10 kills and 10 digs to go along with three blocks. Steinbach (20 assists, four digs), Roesch (four kills, four digs, two aces) and Divan (three kills) all chipped in.

Prior to the Rantoul win, SJO defeated GCMS 25-11, 25-16 on Sept. 27 in Gibson City. Burnett nearly finished with a double-double by producing nine kills and 12 digs to go along with five aces. Steinbach handed out 22 assists, while Roesch and Divan each added five kills. Hannah Fox chipped in defensively with eight digs.

After a home loss to Unity on Sept. 21, SJO got back on the winning track with a 25-16, 25-12 sweep at Pontiac on Sept. 23.
Roesch powered the offense with nine kills, with Burnett made six kills and nine digs. Steinbach (23 assists) and Fox (10 assists) also contributed.

After Tuesday’s match with Prairie Central, SJO stays home on Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. nonconference match against Fisher before ending the week with two road trips. The Spartans are set to play at Olympia at 7 p.m. on Thursday and at noon on Saturday at Chillicothe IVC.

The Spartans also learned their postseason draw recently. SJO will host a Class 2A regional, with the Spartans drawing the third seed and playing either No. 6 Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin or No. 11 Oakwood at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 in a regional semifinal match.

St. Teresa, seeded second, will face either No. 7 Westville or No. 8 Hoopeston Area at 5:30 p.m. in the first regional semifinal match on Oct. 26. The two regional quarterfinal matches will take place on Oct. 25, with the regional championship set for 6 p.m. on Oct. 28.

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