Digging in
JACKSON TWP — With all hands on deck, the Seneca Valley boys volleyball team is eyeing a deep postseason run.
The Raiders closed the regular season with a 3-1 victory over visiting Butler Thursday night. SV will enter next week's WPIAL Class AAA playoffs with an overall record of 12-4, including a 9-3 effort in Section 2.
“We're getting healthy and that will help us with getting our legs back under us,” said SV coach Dan Follett. “Hopefully, with injuries out of the way, we still have our best volleyball in front of us.”
Butler, which had taken the first two games against Seneca Valley before falling 3-2 last month, proved to be the sharper team in Thursday's opening game.
A kill and block from Cody Schnur and another kill from Nash Bryan helped the Golden Tornado create breathing space late in a 25-21 victory.
“I thought our passing was more consistent in that game,” said Butler coach Lew Liparulo. “In the next three, we gave up a few runs to Seneca and that was the difference.”
After their defeat in Game 1, the Raiders huddled up to hear Follett's words, which weren't focused so much on Xs and Os as they were on simply seizing the moment.
“I told the guys that this could be our last home match of the season,” he said. “I told the seniors to cherish that because we might not get another one.”
SV responded by taking the next three games by scores of 25-20, 25-18 and 25-19.
Even with a two-games-to-one lead, things still felt uncertain for the Raiders early in the fourth game, which was tied at several points, including 9-9. It was the same pattern followed by the first game.
But this time, it was the Raiders who took control, thanks to kills from Matt Gagnon, Kyle Martini and Evan Maurer.
“We were a bit slow at the start (of Game 4), but we got better,” said Follett. “We started scoring points in bunches and scoring on defense.”
The passing that had fueled Butler's win earlier in the night fizzled as Seneca closed in on victory.
“We were in all three games that we lost tonight, but when you're not on target with a pass to your setter, you're giving the other team a free ball,” said Liparulo. “You can't do that against good teams.”
Game 4 included a pair of aces from Seneca Valley junior Stone Eckenrode, who finished the night with six.
Eckenrode, who plays along the Raiders' back line, is left-handed.
“I think that has a lot to do with it,” he said of his penchant for serves that aren't returned. “I also had a few errors tonight, so I'm still working on it. It's control over power, that's the key.”
Will Hayes tallied 57 assists for Seneca Valley, Gagnon had 20 kills, Kyle Montrose 13 kills and Jack Gardiner 23 digs.
Bryan paced Butler with 15 kills, Tyler Rankin posted 36 assists and Schnur had four blocks.
The Tornado (9-7, 6-6) will also be competing in the district playoffs.
“All of our losses have come against really good teams,” said Liparulo. “We've improved a lot since the beginning of the season.”
