WEXFORD — Butler found itself in a 2-games-to-0 hole against North Allegheny Tuesday — but it never felt overmatched.

The Golden Tornado volleyball team battled back to take the third set and were even at 14 before the Tigers earned the next four points and went on to post a 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18 Section 2-AAA victory.

The Tigers (10-0, 9-0) had defeated Butler 3-0 on April 7, although all three games were determined by a combined 10 points. Butler's one set won Tuesday was the only one the Tigers have lost in section play and just their second all season.

“We didn't get rattled,” said Butler coach Lew Liparulo. “They did not go belly-up.

“We just had no answer to their attack. We were not getting out, not getting to the middle. Our left back row was helter-skelter,” Liparulo added.

“One of our strengths is steadiness,” said Tigers coach Dan Schall. “We play in some good tournaments. We're not playing on foreign turf.”

Butler (9-3, 7-3) held an early lead in the opening set before a Zach Shaw kill and two service aces by Joe Murphy gave the Tigers a 7-6 lead.

Butler took the next two points on Tiger errors before NA responded with the next seven points to take a 14-8 lead.

Butler took the next two points before the Tigers pulled away.

With the second set tied at 7, a hitting error by Butler and a block by Seth Johnson gave the Tigers a 9-7 advantage.

The Tornado stayed close, but could not pull even the rest of the match. Butler would trail 21-19, but a 4-0 run closed out the set.

The Tornado stayed close thanks to eight service errors by the Tigers, six of which came in Butler's first nine points.

“Our style is high-risk, high-reward,” said Schall. “In Game 1, we did a great job. It just happens with jumping servers, you could get that.”

Butler was able to shake off the first two games and came up big. The Tornado trailed 4-1, but chipped away to knot the game at 11. With Butler up 13-12, the Tigers reeled off five consecutive points.

Butler was staring at a 21-19 deficit before Xavier Krause and Travis Myers kills kicked off five consecutive kills by the Tornado for a 24-21 lead.

A service error by Butler, however, was followed by a Shaw kill and Dustin DeFrancisis tip-over to give Butler the set.

The fourth set saw eight ties, the last at 14 apiece thanks to a Krause kill, but a service error by Butler, a Steve Ferringer kill, a service ace by Murphy and a Tommy Keisling kill gave the Tigers a four-point advantage en route to the win.

“Coming in, we knew they were going to key in on our two key hitters (Krause and Dreher),” Liparulo said. “With our aggressive services, we wanted to see what happens, take a chance.”

Krause, Dreher and Derek Wilbert each finished with 10 kills for Butler while DeFrancisis added 28 assists and Dylan Snodgrass 18 passes.

The Tigers received 15 kills from Johnson, 12 kills and six blocks from Ferringer, 12 kills from Shaw and 47 assists from Murphy.

All of Butler's losses have come to teams above them in the section, including one to Seneca Valley, who the squad will play next Thursday after a section matchup at home Tuesday against Fox Chapel.

“We're moving in the right direction,” said Liparulo. “This team has constantly walked out on the court and welcomed the challenge.

“They've had success and done well. They have a lot of faith in themselves and that's what we want.”