PIAA boys volleyball: Despite Class 3A semis loss, Butler playoff run ‘put us on the map’
O’HARA TWP — Butler hoped for a different result than last month’s WPIAL Class 3A championship match.
Golden Tornado boys volleyball coach Lew Liparulo believed his team’s prior effort against the same opponent — district champion and perennial powerhouse North Allegheny — proved it could measure up with anyone.
The Tigers dispelled that notion Tuesday night with a 3-0 sweep (set scores of 25-13, 25-17, 25-16) during a PIAA Class 3A semifinal at Fox Chapel High School. Butler (18-6) lost all dozen sets in four matches it played against North Allegheny this season.
The Tigers advance to play District 3 third-place team Hempfield, which survived D3 champ Cumberland Valley 3-2, in Saturday’s state title matchup at Penn State University’s Rec Hall.
“It put us on the map,” Liparulo said of his team’s playoff run, which included wins over Dallastown and Neshaminy. “The kids really worked hard, (and) it paid off. ... Just to be here says a lot, a long road to get to this point. What else can you say, other than the fact that every week we improved.
“We ran into a wall here, but overall, the kids did a good job.”
“We weren’t really favored throughout the season,” senior libero Maddox McCall said. “I think that’s the biggest thing. We were an underdog going into it, and we came out and went pretty far.”
The Golden Tornado fell behind 7-1 — their only point being a Tigers (15-0) service error — during the initial set, prompting Liparulo to take a timeout. The Tigers’ lead swelled to 10 before they committed a net violation, Avery Rudolph notched Butler’s first kill and a North Allegheny hitting error provided a small Golden Tornado surge.
Brett Schnur staked Butler to a 1-0 advantage in the second set. It was the only time the Tornado would look down on North Allegheny’s score despite sticking within four about halfway into the set. Trailing 17-9, Liparulo paused the game again, a stoppage that halted a five-serve Tigers run.
Schnur and Rudolph registered a kill and an ace, respectively, pulling Butler within six, but North Allegheny shut the door on the set two serves later.
“Our passing was very good tonight,” Liparulo said. “We didn’t run offense as well as we should’ve.”
A 7-1 North Allegheny run during the final set was too much for Butler to overcome. Senior Zane Steimer, one of the Golden Tornado’s strongest offensive weapons, is still proud of what his team was able to show over the past month.
“I’m happy that we can get that recognition finally,” Steimer said. “I think we’ve been a good team. We’ve just been overshadowed by all the other really strong teams in our section. I think we’re in the hardest section in Pennsylvania. I think it’s just cool that we could, this year, make a run.”
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Butler Kohl Salata (19) shows his frustration against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler waves to the fans after losing 3-0 to North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Jaeden Malacaman (11) saves a ball against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Jacob Proudfoot (3) saves a ball against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Jacob Proudfoot (3) spikes the ball on North Allegheny Will Robertson (14) and Peter Bratich (77) in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Jaeden Malacaman (11) saves a ball against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Brett Schnur (9) sets a ball against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler fans cheer in their team against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Brett Schnur (9) smiles after scoring a point against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Zane Steimer (18) spikes the ball against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Jaeden Malacaman (11) shows his frustrations against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Kohl Salata (19) goes up to black a hit against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Brett Schnur (9) goes up to block a hit by North Allegheny Nathan May (2) in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Avery Rudolph (23) tries to block a hit against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Maddox McCall (1) serves the ball against North Allegheny in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal boys volleyball game Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Fox Chapel High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
