BUTLER TWP — A Pennsylvania state bowling tournament is coming to Butler — again.

This time, it’s the ladies’ turn.

The 78th Pa. State USBC Women’s Bowling Association Tournament will be hosted by Family Bowlaway and Sherwood Lanes in the spring of 2016.

Butler County hosted the men’s state tourney in 1994, 2004 and 2012. This will be the first appearance in Butler for the women’s event.

“We’re excited about it,” Butler County Women’s Bowling Association president Laura Paul said. “Our membership really wanted this.”

The BCWBA has more than 600 members. Monthly calendar tickets are already being sold by the association as a fundraiser for the tournament.

“We have to come up with a pin design for the tournament and we’re thinking of having our youth association do that,” BCWBA manager Rhonda Schnitzki said. “The men’s and youth associations have already offered to help us with the tournament.

“All three of the associations are working together on this.”

The 2014 women’s state tournament will be held in Beaver Falls. The 2015 event is slated for Allentown.

Paul said there is a chance the 2015 Pa. women’s seniors tournament will be in Butler, as well.

“That’s something we’re still working on,” she said.

The BCWBA voted to bid for the state tournament two years ago. It put together a presentation before the state board — as did Lancaster County — and the board’s vote on the 2016 tourney host was split.

“They took a vote at the state association’s annual meeting in Reading (site of the 2013 state tourney) and we won it by a 2-1 margin,” Paul said.

The fact Butler had never hosted the event before “most likely played in our favor,” Schnitzki said.

When the results came through, “we were like little kids in a candy store. We couldn’t contain our excitement,” she added.

Members of the state board visited Butler in late October to check out its prospects as a host site.

“The size of the bowling centers and hotel space are key in handling this event,” state association president Donna Shaw said. “I was impressed with Butler. It will be a nice location for us.”

The women’s state tournament runs for seven weekends, but over a 10-weekend period. It does not take place on the weekends of Easter, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day.

“You’re talking about 750 to 800 four-person teams taking part in this,” Shaw said. “There will be plenty of traffic coming in and out each weekend.”

Numerous volunteers will be needed to run the event.

“We’ll need lane monitors, people to staff our souvenir stand, representatives to handle assorted duties at both houses,” Paul said. “Obviously, we’re only in the planning stages here.

“We don’t expect people to volunteer and work an entire weekend. Even if people step forward and work a couple of (bowling) shifts on a given day ... every little bit helps.”