BUTLER TWP — The way Dan Schall sees it, volleyball is a lot like a boxing match.

"Early on, teams try to feel each other out," said Schall, who coaches the North Allegheny boys squad. "Then a run of three (points), and that can change the whole match"

On Tuesday, Butler led 6-5 in the first game before the Tigers, who scored four consecutive points, including three on service points by Chris Conti, took control of the game and the match in a 25-16, 25-17, 25-12 victory over the Tornado.

"We didn't start exceptionally well," said Butler coach Lew Liparulo. "We didn't serve well. Usually we're much better than that. They pounded us."

Butler stayed close in that first game, trailing 14-11, but NA scored 10 of the next 15 points to pull away.

In the second game, a kill by Butler's Derek Wilbert knotted the game at 3, but again the Tigers rode a wave of momentum, ripping off a 12-1 run to open a 15-4 lead.

Zach Shaw helped the Tigers by earning nine consecutive service points.

The Tigers (10-0 overall and in the section) did enjoy a 21-10 lead and looked ready to wrap up the game before the Tornado (6-5, 5-5) scored five consecutive points and seven of nine to pull within 23-17 before a Butler block and a shot both went out to end the game.

In the third game, the Tigers took an 11-4 lead before Butler recorded the next four points to pull within three. But the Tigers regrouped with a 14-4 run to close out the match.

"We've had a good four-week stretch," said Schall. "Our game has kicked into a new gear.

"We still have some fine tuning of our rotation and do a few different things yet," he added.

Even after the Tigers beat the Tornado 3-0 on April 8, they mixed things up a little this time around.

"They attacked the middle a lot more," Liparulo noted. "Last time it was a lot more spread around."

Senior Kyle Gregen led the Tigers with 11 blocks and nine kills while Brian Tevis had six kills, Michael Krepp had 34 assists and Evan Buysee had 11 digs.

Butler received eight kills from Mike Dreher and four kills from Wilbert, while Anthony Lewis chipped in with eight passes and Dustin DiFrancisis had 12 assists.

The Butler JV team (8-3) defeated NA 25-22, 25-21.