April 8, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Close matches highlight SJO volleyball’s opening week

The results of the first week of the season don’t determine how the rest of a two-month season will play out.

Coach Abby McDonald’s St. Joseph-Ogden High School volleyball program has a track record of success, notably with a Class 2A state runner-up finish in 2016 and a third-place finish in 2A in 2019.

This year’s Spartans are trying to piece together their first win streak of the young season entering Monday’s home nonconference match against St. Teresa.

Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin defeated SJO 25-14, 21-25, 25-18 this past Thursday night in St. Joseph, with the Spartans sweeping Georgetown-Ridge Farm 25-8, 25-20 last Wednesday night at home and Maroa-Forsyth handing SJO a 26-24, 24-26, 25-17 home loss to open the season on Aug. 22.

Addie Roesch powered SJO (1-2) against G-RF with nine kills, while Peyton Williams and Shayne Immke each had five kills.

Taylor Hug (20 assists) and Sadie Ericksen (seven digs) also chipped in during the win against G-RF.

In the season opener against Maroa-Forsyth, Immke contributed 12 kills and six digs, while Hug had a double-double of 26 assists and 12 digs. Williams also contributed with six kills and three digs.

After Monday night’s home match with St. Teresa, slated for a 7 p.m. start, the Spartans hit the road to play at Mahomet-Seymour at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and are then back home at 7 p.m. on Thursday against Teutopolis.

SJO will hit the road again next Saturday, traveling to Mattoon for the day-long Mattoon Tournament. The Spartans are set to play five matches at the tournament, with pool-play matches against Pana (9 a.m.), Mt. Vernon (11 a.m.) and Mattoon (noon) before bracket play begins in the afternoon. Monticello, Neoga, Taylorville and Warrensburg-Latham are the other teams that will compete at the Mattoon Tournament.

Banner
Related Posts

Pence looks to the future with scholarship offers

July 6, 2021

July 6, 2021

By Jim Cotter Growing up in the shadows of the University of Illinois, it was always a dream for Ty...

Vogelsang resigns as SJO soccer coach; superintendent expresses frustration over ‘unfortunate’ situation

December 20, 2019

December 20, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden High School will need a new soccer coach for the 2020 season. Dan Vogelsang has resigned from the...

Get to know SJO volleyball player Taylyn Lockhart

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? Our work ethic and how well we are able to play...

Knap, Jones lead balanced SJO girls’ cross-country effort in Monticello

October 24, 2020

October 24, 2020

Consistent running is key for any cross-country team. Not having one runner separate themselves too far from their teammates or...

Behrens, Vallee help Spartans continue strong start

February 11, 2021

February 11, 2021

So far, so good for the St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball team. The Spartans made the short drive to Champaign on...

Immke, host of others help SJO softball pile up the wins in May

May 26, 2021

May 26, 2021

The last three weeks have seen the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team play a whole bunch of games — 15 to...

SJO cross-country teams eager to start season off and running

August 31, 2019

August 31, 2019

The end goal for every high school cross-country runner in Illinois is to end the season racing at Detweiller Park...

Kaiser’s positivity a plus on court

October 4, 2019

October 4, 2019

Lacey Kaiser is a positive presence on the volleyball court. So much so, that her coach Abby McDonald nominated her...

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...

Getting to know SJO football Captain Aidan McCorkle

October 29, 2022

October 29, 2022

We asked the SJO football team captains five questions. Here are Aidan McCorkle’s responses. Why is being a team captain...

Cramer, Lannert spark SJO girls’ basketball to fifth at State Farm Holiday Classic

January 3, 2020

January 3, 2020

Close games. Again. Clutch moments. Again. The small-school State Farm Holiday Classic had all of these attributes — and more...

Seeley’s hat trick leads SJO soccer to first win

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

Prolific goal scoring highlighted both of St. Joseph-Ogden High School’s soccer matches last week. One went in favor of the...

Mabry clocks top time for SJO boys’ cross-country during Spartan Classic victory

October 1, 2021

October 1, 2021

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ cross-country team has already run on a variety of courses during the first month...

Weaver, Miller help SJO football stay unbeaten

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

A close game in the fourth quarter ended the way the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team wanted last Friday...

SJO girls’ basketball reaches Sweet 16

February 12, 2019

February 12, 2019

One more win and the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team can celebrate its first sectional championship in 12...

Comments
Leave a Reply