How battle-tested Butler volleyball earned its highest WPIAL tournament seed ever
BUTLER TWP — In the 32-year history of Butler boys volleyball, no previous regular season can match what the team has managed this spring.
The Golden Tornado are hoping to continue the run of accomplishments now that the postseason has arrived.
With a 14-4 record, the team earned the No. 2 seed in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs and will face No. 7 Upper St. Clair, which beat 10th-seed Hempfield 3-0 Tuesday, in a quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Thursday.
“We’ve been seeded No. 3 before, but never as high as No. 2,” Butler coach Lew Liparulo said. “We’re also ranked sixth in the state (by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association). Our section is always good, was very tough again this year, and I think that has a lot to do with us being (ranked) so high.”
No. 1 North Allegheny, defending WPIAL champion and a perennial state power, won the section title this year. Butler and Seneca Valley, seeded third, both finished 5-3 in section play to tie for second.
Butler’s rally from a 2-1 deficit to defeat SV 3-2 in mid-April avenged a sweep at the hands of the Raiders earlier in the season. It was part of eight victories in a nine-game stretch for the Tornado.
“That was a key match for us,” Liparulo said. “We also beat Pine-Richland twice. They didn’t make the playoffs, but I can tell you, they’re a strong team.
“North Allegheny coach Dan Long told me that NA, Seneca, Pine-Richland and us all went undefeated against non-section WPIAL opponents this season. That says a lot.”
Senior middle Zane Steimer looks forward to the tough section matchups.
“Playing those teams, scoring big points against them helps bring us together as a team,” he said. “When we play against teams from other sections, we feel more prepared because of the teams we have to play twice every season.”
Pacing the team in kills are Andrew Slaugenhoup (196), Jacob Proudfoot (140) and Steimer (101).
“We are facilitating a lot of swings at the net because our back row is getting the ball into our setter’s hands,” Liparulo said.
That setter, junior Avery Rudolph, has totaled 449 assists, a team-leading 24 aces and 118 digs this spring.
“He was a JV player last year, and that’s a big jump to make, starting for varsity,” said Steimer. “He’s doing a great job for us.”
Liparulo referred to senior Maddox McCall as “one of the best liberos in the WPIAL.”
McCall, who has contributed 210 digs, is a three-year starter. He believes the chemistry formed between veterans like himself and younger players has had a large say in the team’s success.
“We have a lot of juniors who have filled important roles this season,” he said. “We are playing well and working together.”
Between the boys and girls programs at Butler, Liparulo has been coaching volleyball for 50 years. He is the only head coach the boys have ever had and keeps them motivated and focused in practice.
“He has so much experience, and that helps us a lot,” McCall said. “He’s a role model to all of us.”
