Armed with experience and a new classification, Seneca Valley is poised to make a run at the WPIALboys volleyball championship.

The Raiders are coming off a 10-2 season — losing a five-set match in the quarterfinals to Ambridge — and return their entire team.

And the Bridgers, WPIALrunners-up to Fox Chapel, do not return to their section.

Previously all one division, WPIALboys volleyball has been divided into Class AAAand Class AA. Ambridge is in Class AA, which houses the 19 schools with enrollment figures of 560 or fewer.

Seneca Valley and Butler are among the 19 Class AAAschools.

Butler and Seneca Valley are in a section with North Allegheny, Shaler, North Hills and defending WPIALchampion Fox Chapel. The top four teams qualify for the WPIALplayoffs.

"We should definitely be among the top three in our section, along with North Allegheny and Fox Chapel,"said sixth-year Seneca Valley coach Jeff Beavers. "Plum and Hempfield should be strong (AAA) teams, too."

"We may play well this year and not get to the playoffs,"Butler coach Lew Liparulo allowed. "You're not always a bad team if you don't have a winning record. Our section is very, very strong."

The Raiders will be led by senior setter Dan Beebe, weak-side hitter Adam Beebe, middle hitter Justin Hoffman and outside hitter Mike Emling.

Outside hitter Dan Follett and libero Nick Andreone, also seniors, round out the starting lineup. Conor Barrett, a junior, will see action as a middle hitter.

"We should be strong for the next three years,"Beavers said. "I've got a number of very good underclassmen who simply won't be able to get much varsity playing time this year."

Seneca Valley had 80 boys try out for the team. Beavers kept 35, 22 of whom will be on the junior varsity team.

"We've been to the playoffs in three of the past five years," Beavers said. "Our reputation is known by the student body, and kids want to be part of that kind of success."

Liparulo has been Butler's coach since the program's inception in 1994. The Golden Tornado were 6-6 a year ago and lost five starters — setter Shawn Vincent, backcourt specialists Ryan Collins and Andy Weiland, middle hitters Chris Falbo and Devin Koehring — to graduation.

Sophomore Billy Roberts is back as a middle hitter and is the Tornado's lone returning starter.

"We have a young team, in terms of experience, but there's some talent here,"Liparulo said.

Senior Walter Santa moves to middle hitter from the outside. Fellow senior Josh Snodgrass is a defensive specialist, and Cody Clark is a libero.

Junior Luke Lombardo was the setter for the junior varsity last season.

"Luke's development will be key,"Liparulo said. "The setter position is crucial in this sport."

Competing for playing time as outside hitters are senior Brandon Konieczny and sophomores Rob Soldner and Andrew Willison. Back row specialists will come from junior Steve Hitchen and sophomores Josh Aggas, Chris Geigel and Cody Moffatt.

Giegel is sidelined with a fractured clavicle and could miss most of the season.

"I'm pleased with the intensity we're showing in practice,"Liparulo said. "We'll just keep plugging away and see what happens."