Butler County’s boys volleyball 2026 all-stars: Malachi DeGraaf POTY, first team and more
The 2026 boys volleyball season saw Butler turn in the best campaign in program history, reaching the WPIAL championship match and the state semifinals. Rival Seneca Valley remained one of the better teams in the district, qualifying for the state playoffs for the fifth time in six years.
Balanced rosters helped both teams meet with success. The Golden Tornado and Raiders dominated the Butler Eagle's boys volleyball all-stars, which are listed below, alphabetically:
Malachi DeGraaf, sr., OH, Seneca Valley: Coach knows best.
At least he did in the case of Malachi DeGraaf, who joined Seneca Valley's varsity boys volleyball program his freshman year as a libero.
“That's the position he was comfortable with, but we needed him on the outside,” SV coach Brett Poirier said. “We began to mold him for that position.”
DeGraaf spent the last two seasons as an outside hitter and recently turned in a superb senior campaign that included 260 kills, 195 digs, 21 blocks and a single-season school record 66 aces. He was the only senior on a team that reached the state playoffs.
His performance has earned DeGraaf the Butler Eagle's 2026 Boys Volleyball Player of the Year honor.
“I wasn't just going through the motions, (I) showed up to practices and games with a lot of purpose,” DeGraaf said. “Walking with God helped me a lot. It helped me stay positive even when we faced adversity.”
Poirier was impressed with more than just DeGraaf's stat line.
“With seniors, it can be difficult,” he said. “There's so much going on for them. Senior trips, working jobs, and if a team is good enough to make states, often a player has already graduated and they're still playing games. Is their mind still in it? Malachi had to take the reins this year, and he remained focused throughout the entire season.”
DeGraaf will continue to play in college at Cornerstone University in Michigan, following in the footsteps of four older siblings who also competed at the next level after starring for Seneca Valley.
“My oldest brother, Daniel, got into volleyball, and the rest of us fell in line with it,” he said.
Gavin Gorajewski, so., OH, Seneca Valley: 2026 stats: 257 kills, 39 blocks, 56 digs, 58 aces
“He was a three-rotation guy this year, and we're hoping he can become a six-rotation player. He just needs to work on his defense,” Poirier said. “He'll get there, he's got two more years and at (6-feet-6), he's got great size.”
Maddox McCall, sr., L, Butler: 2026 stats: 324 digs, 40 assists
“He was very consistent in passing and on defense,” Butler coach Lew Liparulo said. “It helped facilitate so much of our offense. When teams went after our setter, he put up some nice balls that turned into kills.”
Avery Rudolph, jr., S/OPP, Butler: 2026 stats: 604 assists, 176 digs, 58 kills, 30 aces
“Avery's got unbelievable hands,” Liparulo said. “We moved from a 5-1 rotation to a 6-2 to get him involved up front, and he contributed a good deal to our attack.”
Andrew Slaugenhoup, sr., OH/DS, Butler: 2026 stats: 251 kills, 172 digs, 27 blocks, 23 aces
“Andrew makes very good decisions and is a consistent hitter,” Liparulo said. “He gave us an attack option in the back row.”
Zane Steimer, sr., MH, Butler: 2026 stats: 162 kills, 49 blocks, 80 digs
“Playing in the middle, he didn't get as many attack opportunities, but he's a very powerful hitter,” Liparulo said. “Between his sophomore and junior seasons, he worked very hard to improve his vertical jump.”
Mac Wilson, jr., OPP, Seneca Valley: 2026 stats: 195 kills, 63 blocks, 20 digs
“We stuck him on the right side because we needed him there, but he can play any position in the front row,” Poirier said. “A guy like that is tough to find. He's our best utility player.”
Josh Glover, jr., L, Seneca Valley; Sean Kane, jr., S, Seneca Valley; Jacob Proudfoot, jr., OH/DS, Butler; Thomas Quinlan, jr., MH, Seneca Valley; Chris Ramaley, sr., OH, North Catholic; Kohl Salata, jr., MH, Butler
