Seneca Valley boys volleyball holds off Butler in section clash
BUTLER TWP — Butler reached the top of the mountain several times. But Seneca Valley never let it reach the other side.
The Golden Tornado boys volleyball team was able to tie the Raiders seven times during their match Thursday night in the Butler gym. SV never surrendered the leads all night, however, in posting a 3-0 victory.
Game scores were 25-19, 26-24, 25-21.
“They were coming at us, but when you can get side out in those tight situations, it prevents momentum from going to the other side. SV sophomore outside hitter Gavin Gorajewski said.
Butler (4-1) fell behind early in each game, trailing 5-0 in the first, 5-1 in the second and 9-4 in the third. While the Tornado never drew even in the first set, they rallied to knot the second at six, 19 and 24.
Gorajewski scored consecutive points on a kill and block for the Raider. When Sean Kane recorded an ace, the SV lead was 22-19. Butler fought back again to tie the score, by a Mac Wilson kill was followed by a Tornado hit out of bounds and the Raiders escaped with the 26-24 win and 2-0 match lead.
“Our kids played hard, maximum effort, but we made some mistakes we need to clean up,” Butler coach Lew Liparulo said. “They had a lot of kills against us.”
Andrew Slaugenhoup’s kill pulled Butler even at 18 in the third set. A Kohl Salata kill got the Tornado even at 21. This time, the Raiders closed the door.
Kills by Gorajewski, Wilson and Malacho DeGraaf were followed by a Gorajewski ace to give the Raiders (5-1) the tight sweep.
“We never know what we’re gonna get when we come into this gym,” SV coach Brett Poirier said. “Butler has a very good team. A lot of their guys play club for me and these kids on both teams know each other well.
“We knew it’s gonna be a wild match.”
The Raiders have a young team - DeGraaf and Isaac Parkinson bsing the lone seniors - but secured most of their points through kills and blocks up front.
Gorajewski had 11 kills and two aces, Wilson and Thomas Quinlan seven kills each. Nico Wheeler, a freshman, had six kills and Kane had three aces.
“We’ve been playing together since seventh grade,” Gorajewski said. “We set together, hit together, work together. I think we’re setting ourselves up to be successful over the next few years.”
The Raiders’ lone loss this season is a 3-2 setback at defending state champion Meadville.
“That one almost felt like a win,” Poirier said.
Jacob Proudfoot led Butler with right kills. Maddox McCall had 22 digs and Avery Rudolph 19 assists.
“We started slowly in all three games tonight,” Liparulo said. “We fought back, but it’s hard when you dig a hole like that.’
Seneca Valley travels to Peters Township on Friday. Seneca Valley goes to Pine-Richland next Thursday.
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Seneca Valley’s Gavin Gorajewski (31) spikes the ball against Butler in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Andrew Slaugenhoup (13) spikes the ball in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley celebrates is 3-0 win over Butler in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Jacob Proudfoot (3) spikes the ball against Seneca Valley in a game against Butler in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Maddox McCall (1) returns a serve by Seneca Valley in a game against Butler in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Jaeden Malacaman (11) returns a serve by Seneca Valley in a game against Butler in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Jacob Proudfoot (3) spikes the ball against Seneca Valley in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Sean Kane (23) sets the ball in a game against Butler in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Mac Wilson (24) dinks the ball over the net against Butler in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Andrew Slaugenhoup (13) returns a serve by Seneca Valley in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley defeated Butler 3-0 in a boys volleyball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
