ROSS TWP — What looked like a short night turned into a long one.

But it still was the last night for the Butler girls volleyball team.

A stirring Golden Tornado rally fell short Tuesday night as North Allegheny posted a 3-2 victory in a WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal match at North Hills High.

The Tigers (15-3) won the first two games 25-16, 25-14 and had a 21-16 lead in Game 3.

"I couldn't ask anything more of these girls,"Butler coach Meghan Lucas said. "They played their hearts out."

With the Tigers in position to win in straight games Tuesday, Becky Smith and Abby Druschel went to work for the Tornado.

"The key to our comeback was getting the ball to Becky and Abby in the middle,"Lucas said. "They kept delivering there time after time."

Butler (11-5) scored nine of the final 11 points in Game 3 to grab a 25-23 decision and to prolong the match. Smith scored her team's final four points on kills.

The Tornado won Game 4 by a 25-22 count, with Rachel Doutt's block securing the match-tying point.

But North Allegheny won the deciding game 15-11, scoring the first two points and never falling behind. Senior outside hitter Gretta Freyermuth scored the final three points of the match on kills.

Freyermuth had 13 kills and Jackie Lang 12 for the Tigers.

"They've been consistent for us all year,"North Allegheny coach Dan Schall said. "They know how to make plays happen along the net."

North Allegheny is headed to the WPIALsemifinal round for the third consecutive year. The Tigers finished third in the WPIALand third in the state last season.

"Our girls didn't play badly in games 3 and 4," Schall said. "Butler just raised its game to another level.

"I credit Becky Smith for getting them back in the match. She was extraordinary at the end of Game 3 and through the rest of the night."

Smith had 14 kills and 11 blocks. Amanda Huey added eight kills and nine blocks. Druschel had eight kills and 11 digs.

Marina Gracik had seven kills and Stephanie Mock had 20 digs for the Tornado.

Before Butler rallied from the 21-16 deficit to win Game 3, it was tied with NAon the scoreboard only twice — at 1-1 in Game 2 and 6-6 in Game 3.

"We fought hard. We know where we're at right now,"Lucas said. "We're right there (with the WPIAL's upper echelon). We're knocking on the door."

The Tornado won their first playoff game against Baldwin last week.

Butler is losing only three seniors — Smith, Doutt and Mock. North Allegheny has 10 seniors on its roster.

"Those three have meant so much to the development of this program,"Lucas said. "I already have other girls in line ready to fill their spots. I'm already thinking about next year."