Spartan Volleyball on 5-game win streak, Acton and Grimsley move on to IHSA Sectionals

BY FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

St. Joseph-Ogden Girls’ cross-country

SJ-O’s girls’ cross-country team finished third in the varsity division of Tuesday’s Illini Prairie Conference meet and first in the girls’ open division.

The Spartans’ top five varsity runners all completed the 3-mile course at Fairbury within 16.2 seconds of one another.

Leading the way was Jillian Plotner, who was eighth in 18 minutes, 3.8 seconds.

Teammates close on her heels were Hannah Rajlich, 10th in 18:04.6, Ava Knap, 13th in 18:10.4, Ashlyn Lannert, 14th in 18:12.6 and Ally Monk, 15th in 18:20.0.

Completing the team’s varsity lineup was Kailyn Ingram, 24th in 19:09.7.

Monticello won the varsity meet (40 points), followed by Unity (47) and SJ-O (60).

In the open division, SJ-O recorded a dominant performance. The team’s top five runners were all among the first 10 finishers and their times were within 45.6 seconds of one another.

Hope Rajlich was the open runner-up, logging a time of 19:10.3. She was followed by teammates Addie Allen (fourth in 19:20.2), Malorie Sarnecki (fifth in 19:28.5), Kendra Riddle (seventh in 19:39.6) and Hanna Eastin (ninth in 19:55.9).

SJ-O’s team point total was 27. Runner-up Unity was right behind, with 28 points.

Other Spartan competitors were: Sidney Davis (23rd in 22:17.3), Mary Hinrichs (25th in 22:24.8), Taryn Sexton (26th in 22:53.1), Teagan Miller (35th in 24:26.5), Izzy Sexton (36th in 25:48.6) and Lili Wentzloff (38th in 30:00.3).

SJ-O returns to action on Saturday in the Prairie Central Invitational.

St. Joseph-Ogden Boys’ cross-country

The Spartans had one top-10 placer in both the varsity and open divisions of Tuesday’s Illini Prairie Conference meet, hosted by Prairie Central.

In the varsity race, Brandon Mattsey was ninth. His 3-mile time was 15 minutes, 46.3 seconds.

The next three SJ-O runners completed the course within 40 seconds of one another.

Eric Poe was 20th in 16:10.2, Charlie Mabry was 27th in 16:45.7 and Elijah Mock was 29th in 16:50.7.

Rounding out the team’s varsity lineup were Lukas Hutcherson (37th in 17:00.2), Luke Stegall (39th in 17:03.7) and Logan Wolfersberger (49th in 17:38.5).

Olympia won the boys’ varsity race with a team score of 29 points. Runner-up Monticello had 42 points. SJ-O placed third with 122 points.

In the open division, SJ-O didn’t have enough runners to be scored as a team.

The Spartans’ pacesetters were Ethan Blackburn (sixth in 17:20.7), Taddy Pettit (12th in 17:54.3), Zach Dahman (26th in 19:54.3) and Josh Sexton (30th in 20:19.5).

Olympia also won the open division team title, with 29 points. Monticello took second with 42 points.

SJ-O returns to action on Saturday in the Prairie Central Invitational.

St. Joseph-Ogden Volleyball

SJ-O opened its week with a pulsating 28-30, 31-29, 26-24 conquest of Tri-Valley in Downs.

Kennedi Burnett’s double-double included a season-high 20 kills. She also totaled 14 digs and two aces.

Emily Bigger distributed 38 assists and served four aces.

Rylee Stahl ended with 13 digs and Payton Vallee collected eight kills.

SJ-O continued its road trip with a come-from-behind win on Tuesday at Tolono Unity, 26-28, 25-20, 25-13.

Burnett drilled 13 kills and Katelyn Berry had 10 kills.

Bigger handed out  30 assists. Stahl led with 10 digs.

The Spartans (20-4) return to action today at home against Pontiac, trying to extend a five-match winning streak. SJ-O has a 4-1 record in Illini Prairie Conference matches.

The 20-win season is the 12th in a row for the school in volleyball and the 19th in the past 20 years. During the four years that the current seniors have been in high school, SJ-O has amassed 104 varsity volleyball victories.

St. Joseph-Ogden Boys’ golf

Two Spartans moved on from the Class 1A regional to the sectional based on Monday’s regional tournament results at Danville’s Harrison Park.

Seniors Joe Acton and Payton Grimsley tied for 11th individually with 89s and secured advancement to the sectional, which will be on Monday at El Paso.

There were 66 participants at the regional.

Other SJ-O postseason scores were Riley Myren (108), Jacob Kern (109), Maddux Carter (110) and Jack Robertson (116).

St. Joseph-Ogden Soccer

SJ-O is continuing its late-season surge, posting victories on Monday and Tuesday this week.

The Spartans are 4-2-1 in their last seven matches.

Four Spartans scored goals on Monday at Watseka and SJ-O blanked the Warriors 4-0.

SJ-O led at intermission, 3-0, thanks to goals from Luke Cohen, Tyler Sullivan and Logan Ingram.

The lone second-half tally was by Emily Elsbernd.

Garnering assists were Wes Seeley and Mason Behrens.

Hunter Ketchum registered four saves in his second consecutive shutout.

On Tuesday, the Spartans needed a second-half rally to beat Olympia 2-1 in Stanford.

SJ-O trailed 1-0 at the break.

Luke Cohen and Zac Seeley each hit second-half goals. Cohen assisted on Seeley’s tiebreaker.

Ketchum posted six saves.

SJ-O (6-13-3) returns to action today at home against Arthur-Lovington. The Spartans have yielded just seven goals in their last seven matches.