Spartans' Virtue Comes of Age Return to State Brings Senior Setter Full Circle

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Byline: Dave Miller

Katie Virtue has come a long way from not knowing what a sideout was.

Back in 1991, she was just a fifth-grader tagging along with her family watching the St. Francis volleyball team win the state championship at Redbird Arena in Normal.

The experience piqued her interest in the sport.

"I wasn't really into volleyball then because I didn't start until seventh grade," Virtue said. "Still I remember watching and thinking it was so cool. That's when I was learning. You know how they announce everything like, 'Sideout, Spartans' or whatever. I had to ask my mom what a sideout was. I remember wondering, 'Why does he keep saying …