By Fred Kroner
St. Joseph-Ogden opened its volleyball postseason at home on Tuesday (Oc. 26) and dispatched Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin, 25-14, 25-16, in an IHSA Class 2A regional semifinal match.
Kennedi Burnett planted 11 kills to go with six digs and five service aces.
Shayne Immke contributed six digs, five kills, three aces and one block. Becca Steinbach recorded 21 assists, four digs and one block.
SJ-O (26-4) returns to action on Thursday (Oct. 28) at 6 p.m. against Decatur St. Teresa in the regional championship match. When the schools played early in the season, in Decatur, the Spartans posted a three-set win.
SJ-O has won 13 consecutive matches.
The Spartans are chasing their seventh regional title in volleyball in nine years, though a postseason series was held in only eight of those seasons. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
Overall, SJ-O has registered 14 regional crowns in volleyball, all since 1995.
St. Teresa is seeking a third consecutive regional championship in years there has been a postseason. The Bulldogs are coached by SJ-O graduate Brad Dalton, who has guided his team to state in both 2018 and 2019.
Overall, St. Teresa owns 10 volleyball regional plaques, all since 2006.
