Butler boys volleyball reverses fortunes with thrilling 5-set win over rival Seneca Valley

April 14, 2026 Last Updated: April 14, 2026 11:27 PM Sports

Butler’s Avery Rudolph (23), Maddox McCall (1) and Zane Steimer (18) celebrate after defeating Seneca Valley 3-2 in a boys volleyball game Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

JACKSON TWP — A reversed call gave Butler the lead it never lost.

Seneca Valley appeared to tie the fifth and deciding set at 11 during the rivals’ WPIAL Section 1-3A boys volleyball showdown Tuesday night in the Raiders’ gym. Malachi DeGraaf, one of two seniors on SV’s roster, registered the kill for the apparent tying point.

But the Raiders (7-2, 3-1) were whistled for a violation on the play, giving Butler (10-2, 3-2) a 12-10 advantage. Senior middle Zane Steimer produced kills for the Golden Tornado’s final two points in an epic 3-2 victory.

Match scores were 25-18, 22-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12.

“This match could have gone either way,” Butler coach Lew Liparulo said. “I’m proud of my team the way it hung together and kept fighting.”

The score was tied 30 times on the night, including nine times in the decisive fifth set.

Seneca Valley had swept Butler 3-0 earlier this season. The Raiders’ only previous loss this year was a 3-2 decision at defending state champion Meadville early in the campaign.

“Our attitude was the difference tonight,” Steimer said. “We weren’t gonna let ourselves get down, no matter how the match was going.”

Butler’s Kohl Salata (19) spikes the ball against Seneca Valley in a boys volleyball game Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

After winning the first set, Butler had an opportunity to go up 2-0 on the scoreboard with an attack error giving the Tornado a 21-20 edge in the second set. But the Raiders finished the set on a 5-1 run. After an Eiken Downing block gave SV a 22-21 lead, the Raiders closed the run with a Mac Wilson kill and an ace by Gavin Gorajewski.

The Raiders opened up a 24-17 lead in the third set — the biggest lead of the match for either team — before withstanding a late Tornado push to grab a 2-1 lead in the match.

But Butler wouldn’t go away.

“We attacked more from the outside this time,” Liparulo said. “Our attack was more diversified, and it needed to be that way. We were without one of our better players (Brett Schnur) tonight, but the guys rallied together.”

The Tornado received late kills from Steimer, Andrew Slaugenhoup and Jacob Proudfoot — the latter’s deciding the fourth set — to force the back-and-forth fifth set.

“We just kept pushing,” Slaugenhoup said. “This is a big win for us in terms of momentum. It definitely gives us more confidence moving forward.”

Slaugenhoup led Butler with 18 kills. Maddox McCall contributed 31 digs, while Steimer had four blocks. Avery Rudolph and Colton Bestwick both had 21 assists.

Gorajewski paced Seneca Valley with 17 kills, two blocks and two aces. DeGraaf tallied 15 kills and an ace, Wilson 11 kills. Raider coach Brett Poirier could not be reached for comment after the match.

Butler hosts Summit Academy on Wednesday. Seneca Valley will look to get back on track Friday at section power North Allegheny.

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Kohl Salata (19) spikes the ball against Seneca Valley in a boys volleyball game Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Seneca Valley’s Malachi DeGraaf (7) spikes the ball against Butler in a boys volleyball game Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw