BUTLER TWP — Matt Huey looked at the seedings and thought it was a little low.

The Butler graduate played in highest-regarded Class AAA boys volleyball section in the WPIAL.

When his Pittsburgh Volleyball Club Under-18 team was seeded 31st out of 36 teams at the 35th annual United States Boys’ Junior National Volleyball Championships, it caught Huey a little off-guard.

“I thought it was a little low,” said Huey, who is going to Penn State Altoona next year. “I believe in our team. I think we can go pretty far in the tournament.”

Huey is one of two Golden Tornado volleyball players — along with senior libero Chris Fiorina — participating in the event. Seneca Valley has nine players listed on the rosters for the event including: Marshall Price (15U, setter), Nate Trzeciak (15U, outsider hitter), Sean Cavenaugh (16U, outside hitter), Jonathan Dolfi (16U, outside hitter), Stephen Jones (17U, setter), John Price (17U, outside hitter), Tyler Hermann (18U, outside hitter), Zach Lyman (18U, setter) and Taylor Matthews (18U, middle blocker/right-side hitter).

The tournament runs from June 28 to July 5 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

The Junior National Championships feature the top teams in the country in seven age groups (18U to 12U).

Fiorina, whose U-17 team was seeded 34th, also looks forward to the challenge.

“These teams are the next caliber player and the best of the best,” Fiorina said. “But I don’t think our section was that far off.”

Huey is in his first season of club volleyball after joining this winter. Wanting to pursue opportunities after college, he used it as an opportunity to build his skills.

How they drill helped the outside hitter improve. Huey helped Butler reach the second round of the WPIAL playoffs and garnered All-WPIAL honors.

“We do a lot of scrimmage drills. We scrimmage six-on-six and if you make a mistake they pause the game,” Huey said. “Then they try to simulate it again and fix the mistake.”

Fiorina started with the PVC two years ago at the urging of Butler volleyball coach Lew Liparulo.

Fiorina enjoys the diversity of team, which is made up of kids from Penn-Trafford, Obama Academy, Seneca Valley, North Allegheny and Fox Chapel.

Pacing of the game and the higher skill level is something Fiorina noticed right away.

“The harder hits and higher up competition helps,” Fiorina said. “The serves are a lot harder and some of the kids can jump serve.”