SEMO, Jackson volleyball pipeline continues with St. John commitment

Junior Jackson volleyball standout Katy St. John made her college choice official on Wednesday morning as she solidified her commitment to Southeast Missouri State University.

Announcing via Instagram that she’d further her volleyball career with the Redhawks, she joins senior teammate Holland Guilliams among recent Indians to commit to the program.

The 5-foot-11 hitter becomes the first member of the Redhawks’ 2025 class, deciding to keep her Division-I volleyball career at home well before the start of her senior campaign.

“SEMO volleyball is something so special,” St. John began. “The coaches, the players, the atmosphere is all just so amazing. I immediately felt so welcomed by everyone I met.

“I also loved the thought that everyone I know and love can make the short drive to come see me do what I love. SEMO just felt like such a good fit for me, and I’m so excited for the next chapter!”

After eclipsing the 1,000-kill mark on her career late in the 2023 season, St. John has taken the crown as Jackson High School’s all-time leader in kills and maintains an intimidating presence in the frontcourt.

St. John has been part of Jackson’s varsity volleyball team for three seasons now, accumulating a 90-18-10 record over the course of her career to this date.

Over that time, she’s won the SEMO Conference championship and a district title in every season and manned her net-front position.

Her effort has helped Jackson maintain its role as one of the top programs in all of the bootheel.

“She's just been huge for us,” Indians coach David Mirly said. “She came in, really, in her eighth-grade year as my manager. Even when she was in eighth grade, she was a force out there in practice.

“I always had her practicing against the varsity, which she loved because she got to go against her cousins Hannah and Lydia Shinn.

“Katy held her own back in eighth grade, and she's only gotten better every year.”

St. John is a member of a long lineage of outstanding Jackson blockers, including 2024 graduate Nadia Wasilewski who signed on to play at Wichita State University out of the American Athletic Conference.

With one season left in Jackson’s red and black before crossing into her collegiate career with the Redhawks, Mirly expects her to take the next step as a senior leader with the Indians.

“We expect big things out of her in her senior year,” Mirly said. “With so many of our starters graduating, everyone's going to look for her to be that person.

“She works really hard, so we see no reason why she can't take that leadership role.”