Butler volleyball seeking positives after loss to Shaler
BUTLER TWP — Grab a set, grab some confidence.
That’s the next step for Butler’s girls volleyball team following Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to Shaler in the Golden Tornado gym.
Match scores were 25-14, 25-19, 25-15.
“We’re a very young team,” Butler coach Halee McCance said. “Definitely going through some growing pains, learning how to play together. We’ve been losing by 0-3 scores and need to win a set to get things going.”
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23) attempts to block a shot from Shaler's Chloe Grimes (18), in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Eva Stutz (9) answers a serve, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Janessa Robinson (21) returns a hit at the net, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Emerson McGarrah (10) sets the ball, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Janessa Robison 921) fires one over the net, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23) hits one over from mid court, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23) launches from mid court to spike the ball against Shaler, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Janessa Robison (21) blocks a Shaler shot at the net with an assist by Hannah Simmons (26), in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23) hits the ball, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Sydney Karenbauer (37) attempts to tap one over two Shaler defenders, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Janessa Robison (21) blocks a Shaler shot at the net with an assist by Hannah Simmons (26), in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23) hits the ball, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Sydney Karenbauer (37) attempts to tap one over two Shaler defenders, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Janessa Robinson (21) blocks a net shot by Shaler's Chloe Grimes (18), in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler coach Halee McCance reacts to a play, with Eva Stutz (9), in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Sydney Karenbauer (37) returns a serve, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Janessa Robinson (21) blocks a Shaler shot at the net, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23) returns a serve, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Eva Stutz (9) digs hard to recover a spike from Shaler, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23) spikes the ball, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23) delivers a spike between two Shaler defenders, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Sydney Karenbauer (37) returns a serve, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23)prepares for a kill, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Hannah Simmons (26) in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler's Raina Lewandowski (23) prepares to set up a shot, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler coach Halee McCance takes a moment to focus the team, in a girls volleyball game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
Butler senior Raina Lewandowski — who joins senior libero Eva Stutz as returning starters — agreed with that assessment.
The Tornado (0-4) tied Shaler in the second set on seven occasions, the last being at 12-12 on a Lewandowski kill. But the Titans (2-1) reeled off the next three points to take the lead for the balance of the set. Shaler scored seven of the set’s final nine points.
Sophie Spynda scored aces on consecutive serves to highlight her team’s three-point run following the 12-12 deadlock.
“We just need to turn the corner,” Lewandowski said. “We had the opportunity there and it didn’t happen. It was a little frustrating, but we’ll just stay with it.
“We have a lot of girls playing varsity for the first time. There’s a lot of new players on the team and we’re still getting used to each other.”
Butler never led at all until senior Campbell Clouse scored the first point of the third set. An errant serve by Shaler gave the Tornado a 2-1 lead, but the Titans reeled off 10 of the next 14 points to grab a 12-6 edge.
Shaler put the match away with a six-point run, opening the margin to 18-8.
Butler received 15 points on Shaler service errors in the match.
“That was clearly an issue for us tonight,” Titans coach Annie Carter said. “It hasn’t been a problem, but we were off-target in this match.”
Shaler scored the first seven points of the first set and was never challenged.
“We need to get off to better starts,” McCance conceded. “We were competitive after that, we played hard, but Shaler has a very good team. They’re experienced and they set each other up well.”
Aubrey Blank paced the Titans with 12 kills and an ace. Awurama Aryee contributed nine kills, Emma Dembowski six. Defensive specialist Teagan Orga tallied six aces.
“Aubrey is the heart of our team,” Carter said. “She’s a four-year starter and one of our captains. She played a great game.
“We’re hoping for a good playoff run this year, being in (Class) 5A. We should be very competitive there.”
Lewandowski paced Butler with seven kills, two aces and a block. Janessa Robinson had three kills.
The Tornado look to improve as the season goes on.
“We’re in rebuilding mode right now. That’s just where we’re at,” McCance said. “In this age of volleyball, we’re facing teams that have girls playing the sport year-round. We have a bunch of girls who are multi-sport athletes.
“That’s not a bad thing, of course. But that (year-round volleyball experience) is what we’re up against.”
Butler travels to North Allegheny on Tuesday.
