St. Joseph-Ogden Volleyball Advances to Regional Finals, Avenges Loss to Unity with Semifinal Victory
By FRED KRONER
Tinley Ideus and Emma McKinney each registered double-doubles on Tuesday (Oct. 29) as the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team avenged a previous loss to Tolono Unity with a semifinal triumph in the Oakwood Class 2A IHSA regional.
The Spartans posted a 25-17, 19-25, 25-16 victory against an opponent they lost to in straight sets in September.
Ideus recorded 10 kills and 10 digs. McKinney finished with 23 assists and 11 digs.
Ava Seggebruch (seven kills and 10 digs), Ally Schmitz (four kills and nine digs), Katie Ericksen (two aces and nine digs) and Reese Wheatley (four blocks) were other major contributors for SJ-O.
The Spartans (18-18) return to action at 6 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 31) at Oakwood against St. Thomas More (32-4), another school they lost to in straight sets in September. Unity ends the year with a 21-14-1 record.
SJ-O has won five of its last seven matches.
On Monday (Oct. 28), Schmitz pounded seven kills and teammates McKinney and Ideus had six and four kills, respectively as SJ-O opened postseason play with a 25-17, 25-10 regional quarterfinal win over Oakwood (9-18) in Fithian.
Thea Smith totaled 11 digs and Seggebruch turned in seven digs. Ideus and Schmitz each produced six digs.
McKinney handed out 18 assists. Wheatley collected three blocks and Seggebruch served two aces.
The Spartans are chasing their third regional title in volleyball in the past four years.
