September 25, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Sparty party: A daily roundup of SJO varsity sports (Sept. 17, 2026)

The St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team won its Illini Prairie Conference opener, while the Spartans’ girls’ tennis team played at Mahomet-Seymour. Here is a quick rundown of what happened Thursday with the Spartans:

In volleyball
Smith, McDonald lead SJO in win

St. Joseph-Ogden started Illini Prairie Conference play on a promising note, defeating rival Unity 25-22, 25-19 on Thursday night at home.


The win improves the Spartans to 12-5 on the season and 1-0 in Illini Prairie matches.


Senior Hadley McDonald and junior Vivian Smith each delivered six kills to pace the Spartans’ offense, while senior Addi Stevens and junior Raegan Wheatley each added four kills. Senior Emerson Williams (three kills) and junior Lyla Patton (two kills) also chipped in, while juniors Ava Alexander and Megan Kearney each finished with one kill.


Kearney and sophomore Mia Miller directed the SJO offense, with Kearney handing out 11 assists and Miller distributing nine assists.


Williams led the defensive effort with 13 digs, while Alexander contributed 10 digs. Kearney, McDonald and Miller each came through with six digs apiece.


The Spartans have the weekend off before hosting Mt. Zion at 7 p.m. on Monday in a nonconference match. It is the first of four matches in four days to start next week for the Spartans, who resume Illini Prairie play at 7 p.m. next Tuesday at Monticello before playing at Cissna Park at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday in a nonconference match and then hosting Prairie Central at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday in another Illini Prairie match.

In girls’ tennis
Bulldogs top Spartans

St. Joseph-Ogden won two singles matches and a doubles match, but it wasn’t enough in a 6-3 loss at Mahomet-Seymour on Thursday. Junior Avarie Dietiker earns a 6-2, 5-7, 10-8 win at No. 4 singles for the Spartans, while sophomore Alissa Knight won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 5 singles. In doubles play, junior Ava Bronowski and sophomore Korrine Travis held on for a 6-7 (3), 7-5, 10-5 victory at No. 3 doubles for the Spartans.

What’s on tap
SJO fans will want to head to Monticello on Friday. First, the Spartans’ boys’ soccer team will play at Monticello at 4:30 p.m. in an Illini Prairie match before the SJO football team (5-0, 5-0 Illini Prairie) takes on Monticello (4-1, 3-1) at 7 p.m. in an Illini Prairie game. On Saturday, the SJO cross-country programs host the Spartan Classic. The race begins at 9 a.m. and takes runners through St. Joseph before ending at the high school. The SJO boys’ soccer team will have a quick turnaround from its match at Monticello when the Spartans play at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Westville, while the SJO girls’ tennis team plays in the Chargers’ doubles invite hosted by Centennial that begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday at Lindsay Courts in Champaign.

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