Julia O’Keefe Follows Her Father’s Footsteps to Varsity Volleyball Success
St. Laurence freshman Julia O’Keefe learned the art of volleyball setting from a skilled teacher—her father. Ed O’Keefe was Mount Carmel’s setter back in 1992, the year boys volleyball was officially recognized by the Illinois High School Association. He played alongside future NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb.
With his college-level experience, Ed continues to coach on the club circuit. Julia’s journey in volleyball began early, starting her setting career in fourth grade under her father’s guidance. “I just followed in his footsteps,” Julia stated. “We always worked together. He’s trained me. We would set in the gym and sometimes in the backyard.”
Years of hard work have yielded results. Julia O’Keefe made a successful entry to varsity volleyball on Monday night. She contributed to St. Laurence’s 25-17, 25-16 nonconference triumph over Lincoln-Way West in Burbank. Standing at 5-foot-10, Julia orchestrated 15 of the team’s 18 kills, supplemented by a kill, a block, and an ace.
Aubrey Martinez and Abby Ambrose each delivered six kills, with Emma Novotny leading Lincoln-Way West’s effort with four, though the team allowed 17 points due to errors. Julia’s impressive debut didn’t go unnoticed among her teammates. “Absolutely amazing,” praised Martinez, who added four aces of her own. “I love working with her. She’s so good and I’m so proud of her, especially in this first game. You can’t even tell she’s a freshman.”
Martinez further emphasized Julia’s poise both in practice and during the match. “Her sets are beautiful,” she remarked. “And her set-downs are exquisite.”
Coach Ellen Yopchick was already well-acquainted with Julia long before the season started. Julia excelled as a player for St. Barnabas’ eighth-grade team, led by Ed O’Keefe. Their crowning achievement was winning the Diggin’ For A Cure Tournament at St. Laurence last November. This gave Julia prior experience with the Vikings’ home court. “She’s incredibly calm and collected,” Yopchick commented. “That makes her special. She can take time and see the court. She brings in a high volleyball IQ and is a competitor through and through.”
Julia O’Keefe (33) celebrated her teammate Aubrey Martinez’s kill (1) during the nonconference match against Lincoln-Way West in Burbank on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. (Photo: Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Yopchick has previously elevated three freshmen to varsity during her coaching career. “It’s a big deal to bring up a freshman, and you have to make sure the player is emotionally and physically ready,” she noted. “Julia was ready to do that here for us.”
O’Keefe was confident as a leader on the court despite facing a large and vocal audience. She admitted to feeling a bit anxious. “There were definitely nerves,” she said. “But when you have nerves it means you are excited, so it was great.”
Julia brought noteworthy achievements from the summer, having been named an AAU All-American after her club team finished fifth in the national open division in Indianapolis. “I was very surprised,” she recalled about earning the distinction. “I honestly didn’t think anyone on our team was going to be able to get it because we got fifth. When I was informed, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, really?’ It was so cool.”
Her future looks promising, bolstered by the encouragement of her teammates. “I actually really love it,” Julia shared. “All the girls are welcoming and they don’t even make me feel like I’m a freshman. My teammates and coaches push me and they believe in me.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.