Butler senior Nash Bryan smashes a volleyball past Pine-Richland's Ryan Bauer during a 3-1 win Tuesday night. Bryan had 26 kills in that victory and became the first player in the 25-year history of the Golden Tornado boys volleyball program to reach 1,000 career kills. Bryan is also a pitcher on the Butler baseball team.

Nash Bryan had trouble understanding the decision.

For years he had been a standout club volleyball player, collecting kills with his powerful right arm, excelling at the serve-receive game and launching aces all over the volleyball court.

But two years ago, Bryan was cut from a club volleyball team.

“That was tough, obviously,” said Bryan, now a senior outside hitter on the Butler boys volleyball team. “I took a year off from volleyball, which was hard to do — harder than anything in my life so far.”

He was cut because of the elephant in the room when it comes to place on the volleyball court.

Despite his ability to rack up prodigious kill numbers at the net with his exceptional leaping ability, Bryan only stands 5-foot-11.

So, Bryan turned to his second love — baseball — and developed into a power-pitcher during that year away from the court.

One door closed. Another opened.

Bryan parlayed his burgeoning skill as a pitcher into a scholarship for baseball at Wheeling Jesuit University.

Bryan recently became the first player in the 25-year history of the Butler boys volleyball program to record 1,000 career kills.

Bryan isn't ready to stop any time soon.

He's relishing his role with two teams at Butler in the same season, despite the time constraints.

“I love every minute of every sport I play. I'm definitely having a great time.”

Read the full story in Friday's Butler Eagle.