Butler makes Raiders work before falling
BUTLER TWP — For the Seneca Valley girls volleyball team, the easier things are, the harder it gets.
The squad improved to 16-2 overall and 10-2 in Section 3-AAA after sweeping Butler 25-9, 25-19, 25-12 Thursday, but not without a competitive push from the Golden Tornado.
The Raiders cruised in the first game, getting five consecutive service points from Cate Seman to take an early 8-2 lead.
Alyssa DiMaria also had five straight service points that opened a 17-6 advantage. Seman concluded the game with six consecutive points.
"Just when the girls win the first game and they handily beat the other team, they think the second game will be easy," said SV coach Karen Martini. "With Butler, they never let down. Their defense is good."
The Tornado (7-7, 6-6) responded by scoring seven of the first 10 points in the second game, then the Raiders scored the next four points to even the score.
Neither team would score back-to-back points until Meghan Drambel and Seman recorded kills to give Seneca Valley a 14-12 lead.
The Raiders still held an 18-16 lead, then used kills by Drambel and Abbie Trzeciak, a double hit by Butler, an Alex Karika tip-over and another kill by Drambel to grab a seven-point lead.
"I was pleased we came back," said Butler coach Meghan Lewis. "We didn't give up and played very strong.
"Seneca Valley is an excellent team. They have a great coach and have three kids, Drambel, Seman and Karika, that are all-state caliber players.," Lewis added.
In the third game, Seneca Valley held a slim 12-11 lead before outscoring the Tornado 13-1 the rest of the way.
Karika had four consecutive service points that gave the Raiders a 17-11 lead, then Seman capped the night with seven consecutive points.
"With Cate serving, we have Alyssa DiMaria, Cate and Alex in the back and they've worked together for three years," said Martini.
"I think they're very comfortable with each other. And it doesn't matter if there's freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors in there, you give them a chance and that's what they do."
Seman and Drambel finished with 12 kills each while Trzeciak had six kills and Karika had 38 assists.
For Butler, Amanda Skidmore and Christina Farmer had six kills apiece while Calli Johns had 15 assists and Hannah Williams had 11 digs.
"Our kids hung in there and battled to the end," said Lewis. "To have two middle hitters at 5-foot-6, 5-7 (Farmer and Meghan Studds) in this section when other teams have 5-10, they do a really good job.
"Coaches tell me they can't believe we're not in the playoffs. That's what life in Section 3-AAA is like," added Lucas.
