Tornado strikes!
JACKSON TWP — On the verge of being down two games to none, Butler's boys volleyball team hit its stride.
The Golden Tornado dropped the first game of its WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff to Peters Township and trailed the Indians 23-16 in the second game. A 10-1 run, however, handed victory to Butler and led to a 21-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-21 win Tuesday at Seneca Valley High School.
In the evening's second matchup, SV dismantled Canon-McMillan by scores of 25-19, 25-13 and 25-13.
Butler's comeback in Game 2 included clutch kills from Matt Rudski and Matt Huey with teammate Keenan Krause behind the service line. Peters regained the serve, but gave it right back to the Golden Tornado on a service error, making the score 24-22 in favor of the Indians.
Andrew Hartzell then tallied two aces and Huey dropped two more kills to give their team the win.
“Credit this team, they haven't quit all season and they work hard,” said Butler coach Lew Liparulo. “I really could sense the shift in momentum when we won the second game.”
It was a shift the Indians (12-5) never recovered from.
“If we win that second game, I really think that we win in three (games),” said Peters Township coach Chris Kelly. “We didn't play great in the third and fourth games, but Butler played much better than it did in the first.”
Butler held a modest 15-14 edge in the third game when a kill from Rob Kunst returned the serve to the Tornado and junior Chris Fiorina. An ace and a kill courtesy of Rudski helped Butler reel off four straight points. The Indians managed just one point on their four remaining possessions and never threatened Butler's lead.
Liparulo saw much stronger play from his team compared to earlier in the match.
“Our serve/receive was excellent,” he said. “Most balls were right on target. I thought our hitters started making better decisions.”
The Indians kept their hopes alive by staying with Butler in the fourth game, which was tied at 18. But a pair of kills from Huey and another from Steve Kriley gave Butler breathing room. Kunst ended the match and the Indians' season with his fourth kill of the night.
Huey led Butler (10-5) with 16 kills and added four blocks. Fiorina tallied 12 passes and six digs.
“We knew Peters was a good team and that we'd have to be consistent to beat them,” said Liparulo.
The Tornado advance to the quarterfinals and will travel to Norwin to play the Knights at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Already with a two-game lead in its pocket, SV dashed the Big Macs' slim hopes by opening the third game with a 9-1 run. It was simply a continuation of the dominance Seneca had earlier displayed, especially in the second game, when Canon-McMillan managed just a single service point.“When we're bad, we are bad,” said Big Macs' coach Gary Woodruff. “It's unfortunate I have to say that, but there are times when we just fall apart.”“We were riding momentum after Game 2 and still had it as Game 3 started,” said SV coach Dan Follett. “It really showed.”Canon-McMillan (9-10) stayed within striking distance in the first game, trailing 21-17 before the Raiders grabbed the win.“We knew we had to come out with some energy and I actually think we were lackadaisical in the first game,” said Follett. “But I think we got better as the night wore on and that is what you want.”Sophomore John Dolfi had nine kills for the Raiders (9-6).“We didn't know much about them (Big Macs),” said Seneca junior Tyler Herrmann, who contributed seven kills. “We played them in a tournament earlier this season and beat them 25-16, but that was just a single game. We played as a team tonight and have a lot of momentum right now.”SV will next face Bethel Park, a 3-1 winner over Plum, at 6 p.m. Thursday at North Allegheny High School.
