Butler boys volleyball outlasts Hempfield, ‘puts up a fight’ to remain perfect in non-section play
BUTLER TWP — Monday’s meeting with Hempfield required a bit more effort from Butler boys volleyball, but the Golden Tornado remained perfect in non-section games.
Entering the night, Butler had defeated its five non-section opponents by a combined score of 15-1. After the Tornado grabbed the first set from the Spartans by a score of 25-12, it seemed it would once again win going away.
But Hempfield did not go down easily, forcing a fifth and decisive set before Butler earned a 3-2 victory.
“I know if we lose a first set by (13) points, we’re not going to sit back and just let things happen,” Butler junior outside hitter Jacob Proudfoot said. “We’re going to put up a fight, and that’s what Hempfield did tonight. Each set is different.”
The Spartans led the fifth set 8-6 before a host of players put Butler ahead for good.
Zane Steimer tallied a kill and a block, Andrew Slaugenhoup another kill and Kohl Salata a block to put Butler up 13-10. Slaugenhoup, who paced Butler with 16 kills on the night, finished off the Spartans with an ace as Butler survived by scores of 25-12, 23-25, 25-21, 26-28 and 15-11.
Butler moved to 7-2 overall. It will look to improve on its 1-2 WPIAL Section 1-3A record when it visits Moon on Wednesday.
“There’s only four other teams in our section,” Butler coach Lew Liparulo said. “So that’s eight non-section games we have to schedule for ourselves. And we’ve played some tough teams. Armstrong is good, Norwin and Hempfield were both ranked.
“We’ve only got three or four players who saw a lot of varsity time last year, but the players are meshing really well.”
One of the younger players making a positive impact is sophomore hitter Brett Schnur. Early in the second set, he tallied four straight points thanks to two kills and a pair of blocks.
“He’s been a strong player for us,” Liparulo said. “His role includes a lot of passing, and he’s been very consistent with that.”
The Tornado had a chance to close out the Spartans (3-3) in four sets, but Hempfield middle hitter Donny McMullen tallied three late kills to help his team rally from a 20-18 deficit.
It was just the second time this season Butler was forced to play a fifth set. They defeated section foe Pine-Richland 3-2 in late March.
“Winning these non-section games, it counts on your record, yeah, but it’s also about morale,” said Proudfoot, who tallied nine kills. “We want to win every game we play. It keeps morale up.”
Salata had five blocks and teammate Avery Rudolph 20 digs and 34 assists.
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Butler right-side Seth Kimbell high-fives a teammate between plays in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler outside hitter Mason Russell (3) hits the ball in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler setter Avery Rudolph (23) sets the ball in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler libero Jaeden Malacaman (11) bumps the ball in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler right-side Brett Schnur (9) spikes the ball in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler outside hitter Kohl Salata (19) spikes the ball in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler outside hitter Andrew Slaugenhoup (13) blocks a shot in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler outside hitter Andrew Slaugenhoup hits the ball in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler volleyball coach Lew Liparulo speaks with the team during a timeout in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler outside hitter Andrew Slaugenhoup (13) jumps to spike the ball in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler opposite hitter Mason Russell serves the ball in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler outside hitter Andrew Slaugenhoup (13) serves the ball in a boys volleyball game against Hempfield on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Brett Schnur (9) and Kohl Salata (19) jump to block Hempfield outside hitter Braden Crowe's (2) shot in a boys volleyball game on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Brett Schnur (9) and Kohl Salata (19) jump to block Hempfield outside hitter Braden Crowe's (2) shot in a boys volleyball game on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
