SJ-O Volleyball Battles Through Tight Matches, Finishes 1-4 at Pana/Mattoon Tournament
By Fred Kroner
In four of the five matches played by the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team on Saturday (Sept. 7) in the Pana/Mattoon Tournament three sets were required to determine the winner.
SJ-O dropped three of those matches and finished 1-4 in the event. For the season, seven of the team’s first 10 matches have gone to three sets.
The Spartans were beaten by Warrensburg-Latham (19-25, 25-20, 16-14), Neoga (23-25, 25-14, 15-12), Mount Vernon (19-25, 25-17, 15-11) and Pana (25-13, 25-22) before defeating Mattoon (17-25, 26-24, 15-8).
Tinley Ideus led the team in both kills (21) and digs (47) at the tournament. Emma McKinney led in assists (50) and service aces (nine). Reese Wheatley had the most blocks (seven).
Other leaders for the Spartans in kills were Wheatley (18), Ally Schmitz (12) and Addi Childers (11). Other digs leaders for the day were Katie Ericksen (41), McKinney (40) and Schmitz (32). Ericksen served five aces.
Other block leaders were Childers and Ideus (three apiece).
Teutopolis needed three sets on Thursday (Sept. 5) to capture a volleyball victory at St. Joseph-Ogden, 23-25 25-23, 25-16.
Ava Seggebruch – who missed the Saturday tournament – slammed nine kills and Schmitz landed five kills for the Spartans.
McKinney notched 15 assists and three service aces.
Ideus recorded eight digs and Schmitz added seven digs.
SJ-O (3-7) returns to action on Monday (Sept. 9) at home against Decatur St. Teresa.
