By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
St. Joseph-Ogden couldn’t do anything about the location of Wednesday’s sectional championship volleyball match, but the Spartans had a say in the location of the seating arrangements.
Prior to the final set at Watseka High School, SJ-O coach Abby McDonald instructed setter Emily Bigger to switch sides for the third set, if the choice presented itself.
“In 14 years of coaching, that is not something I’ve said,” McDonald said.
And yet, on this night, the coach believed it would be the right call.
“Herscher’s student section was right behind our bench,” McDonald said. “It was hard to stay focused.”
The teams made the switch and the Spartans were able to change the momentum and pull out a victory over the Tigers, the 20th in a row and one that sends SJ-O into a Class 2A super-sectional at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
SJ-O (35-4), which had advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the past five years, registered a 25-19, 12-25, 25-23 triumph.
The Spartans are now in the Elite Eight and one win away from a state semifinal berth.
Losing the second set by more than a 2-to-1 margin could be unnerving for a teen-aged group, but McDonald reminded them of the situations they found themselves in throughout the season.
“Our focus has been, ‘Right here. Right now,’ “ she said. “What can we learn right here, right now that will prepare us down the road?
“There were plenty of matches where we were down and had to come back. Those moments are not ideal, but our kids are so knowledgeable and have shown they could come back.
“We talked about that this is nothing different than what we’ve prepared for. Their experience allowed us to be successful.”
With Kennedi Burnett posting a double-double (17 kills, 10 digs) and Bigger distributing 40 assists for the match, the Spartans were able to extend their season.
Herscher (35-3) jumped into a quick lead in the tiebreaking set, 4-1, before SJ-O regrouped.
The Spartans created a tie at 7-7 and stormed ahead 19-16 and 23-19, ultimately ending the two-point victory on a kill by Burnett.
“We started transitioning, moving faster on defense and picking up balls,” McDonald said. “Once we keyed in on defense, our offense got going.
“The second half of the third set, we were in pretty good control.”
Bigger had an assortment of hitters to turn to. In addition to Burnett, Payton Vallee slammed 11 kills, Katelyn Berry had 10 and Lacey Kaiser ended with six.
Rylee Stahl produced a team-high 17 digs. Burnett also put up two blocks.
McDonald has come to expect contributions from a multitude of players.
“Our team, it takes all of us to get the win,” she said.
McDonald was pleased that her veteran squad didn’t repeat tendencies that showed up in their 2018 finale.
“Our biggest mistake last year was playing nervous and tense,” she said. “I reminded them, ‘We’ve been here before. Remember the lessons we’ve learned.’
“They didn’t make that mistake.”
Wednesday’s win over Herscher continues a pattern that has been in play all week.
Play a match (Monday), then practice (Tuesday). Play a match (Wednesday), then practice (Thursday). Play a match (Friday), then … regardless of the outcome, there will be a break for the weekend.
“Our philosophy is to take two days off a week,” McDonald said. “I’ve learned if you go too hard, too long, kids almost hit a burnout level.”
She is fine with the week’s quick turnaround between matches.
“At this point, you’re either ready or you’re not,” McDonald said. “I’m OK with one practice and keep going.”
Though SJ-O and Herscher had not played one another in the regular season, the opponent was not an unfamiliar one for the Spartans.
Not only had they met in a summer league match, and then saw Herscher’s Monday two-set sectional semifinal conquest over Unity, but McDonald also had a scouting report from the regional tournament prepared by a non-volleyball staff member.
“I’m thankful to have other coaches who are willing to make that possible,” McDonald said. “It can be hard when you’re in-season to get to everything.”
The next challenge for SJ-O, which is seeking to add another win to its school-record single-season total, is to travel to Chicago Christian on Friday to play the host school in a 6:30 p.m. super-sectional match that determines which school will reach the state semifinals.
McDonald has no complaints with the draw.
“I’d rather go to their place,” she said. “Our kids play better on the road.”
In Monday’s sectional semifinal match, SJ-O made Seneca its seventh consecutive two-set sweep victim. The Spartans scored a 25-17, 25-11 victory.
The SJ-O win was paced by Bigger with 18 assists and six digs along with Burnett, who totaled 12 kills and four digs. Stahl contributed seven digs.
The Spartans’ nine-member senior class has been a part of more varsity victories in volleyball than any other group in school history. After Wednesday’s win, the school has totaled 119 wins in the past four seasons.
The previous four-year wins record in volleyball at SJ-O was 115, set by the Class of 2007, a group that had three head coaches in four years.
At stake on Friday, will be a chance for the Spartans to make their third appearance all-time at state in volleyball. The 2001 team qualified, but did not place. The 2016 team finished as the Class 2A state runners-up.
