BC3 women’s volleyball coach Rob Snyder earns 500th win as Pioneers clinch national championships berth
Saturday’s 3-2 win over Sandhills Community College did more than earn Butler County Community College women’s volleyball a Mid-Atlantic District championship and a national championship tournament berth.
More than continue an unbeaten season with a 21-0 mark.
It secured longtime head coach Rob Snyder his 500th career victory. He is 500-172 overall.
“There’s not a better way to do it,” Snyder said in a news release from BC3 athletics. “I don’t care about my individual numbers, but if you are going to do it, this is the way to do it.”
The No. 4 Pioneers went to five sets for the first time this season and narrowly beat the nation’s second-ranked squad by scores of 25-14, 25-9, 20-25, 17-25, 15-10 for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III district title.
It also secured BC3 an automatic bid in the NJCAA DIII national championships, which will be held Nov. 13-15 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Sixteen teams make the field; the bracket will be announced 6 p.m. Tuesday.
It will be the Pioneers’ fifth tournament appearance: 2002, 2009, 2021 and 2024. Their best finish was fifth in ’02.
“I really wanted to win,” said middle hitter Josie Russo, a Freeport alumna and NJCAA All-American who had a career-high 23 kills. “I really wanted to win. I want to go to Iowa. I think that’s really important. We have such a great team this year and we truly deserve to win. Sandhills is a great team and I knew we needed to play great to beat them. And we did.”
Russo recorded seven of her kills in the decisive fifth set; she also had five digs and seven total blocks. Setter Anora Robare, a Slippery Rock High School graduate, set career highs with 46 assists and 19 digs.
BC3 lost outside hitter Dakota Weldon, who averaged 9.8 kills a match going into Saturday, due to illness over the final three sets.
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Butler County Community College women's volleyball celebrates beating Sandhills Community College in the Mid-Atlantic District Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at the Butler County Community College Field House. Submitted photo
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Butler County Community College women's volleyball celebrates with head coach Rob Snyder after beating Sandhills Community College for his 500th win in the Mid-Atlantic District Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at the Butler County Community College Field House. Submitted photo
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Butler County Community College women's volleyball's Marissa Metzka (11) celebrates a point against Sandhills Community College in the Mid-Atlantic District Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at the Butler County Community College Field House. Submitted photo
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Butler County Community College women’s volleyball's Josie Russo (6) swings for a kill against Sandhills Community College in the Mid-Atlantic District Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at the Butler County Community College Field House. Submitted photo
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Butler County Community College’s volleyball team plays against Sandhills Community College in the Mid-Atlantic District Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at the Butler County Community College Field House. Submitted photo
