Butler makes first WPIAL boys volleyball championship game after epic comeback win over Seneca Valley
CRANBERRY TWP — Two sets down, but never out.
Butler rallied from an 0-2 deficit to stun Seneca Valley 3-2 in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday night at North Catholic High School.
The win puts the No. 2 Golden Tornado (16-4) in the district final for the first time in program history. Butler will take on undefeated and top-ranked North Allegheny for the WPIAL title 8 p.m. Wednesday at Peters Township High School.
Match scores were 22-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 15-9.
“This just feels so darn good,” longtime Butler coach Lew Liparulo said. “This group just loves the game. They can't wait to get in the gym.”
The second-set score was tied 19 times, and neither team ever led the set by more than two points. Consecutive kills by Gavin Gorajewski gave the third-seeded Raiders (13-5) the win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
“We decided that wasn't going to be it. This match wasn't over,” Butler senior Andrew Slaugenhoup said. “We had to start playing with a lead. Once we did that, we rode it to victory.”
“Our energy level wasn't there early,” Tornado senior Zane Steimer said. “But it was sure there late.”
Butler scored five of the last six points to win the third set. It jumped out to an 18-10 lead in the fourth set and rode it out.
Leading 8-7 in the fifth set, the Tornado scored seven of the match's final nine points.
“You can't let up when you have a 2-0 lead, and we let up,” Seneca Valley coach Brett Poirier said. “Their kids wanted it more. They tipped very well at the net, and we didn't handle those tips very well.
“This is a tremendous rivalry. I love this rivalry.”
Avery Rudolph had 17 assists for Butler. Maddox McCall had 19 digs, and Slaugenhoup recorded 15 kills.
Butler entered the district tournament ranked No. 6 in the state by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association in Class 3A and now faces the No. 1 team for the third time this season.
“Coach (Liparulo) deserves this. We deserve this,” Slaugenhoup said. “We dug down and got it.”
“Amazing … unbelievable,” Steimer said. “I'm so glad he (Liparulo) is our coach. He got us here.”
The Raiders will face Baldwin — a 3-0 loser to North Allegheny in the other semifinal — in the consolation game Wednesday for a shot at the WPIAL’s third and final PIAA tournament spot.
Editor’s note: This story was corrected at 11:45 p.m. Monday, May 18, 2026, with the right spelling of Zane Steimer.
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Butler players surround Brett Schnur (9) while celebrating their win over Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler players celebrate after beating Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler head coach Lew Liparulo celebrates beating Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Jaeden Malacaman (11) celebrates winning the fourth set against Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler’s Avery Rudolph (23) and Zane Steimer (18) celebrate winning the third set Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Jaeden Malacaman (11) digs the ball against Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler celebrates as they defeated Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Zane Steimer (18) saves the ball against Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Brett Schnur (9) hits the ball against Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley Sean Kane (23) bumps a ball against Butler in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley student section cheers their team on against Butler in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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A Butler fan shows his frustration about a call against Seneca Valley in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Brett Schnur (9) spikes the ball against Seneca Valley Parker Budney (21) in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Zane Steimer (18) and Avery Rudolph (23) block a Seneca Valley spike in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Butler Jacob Proudfoot (3) hits the ball over Seneca Valley Parker Budney (21) in a WPIAL Class 3A boys volleyball semifinal Monday, May 18, 2026, at North Catholic High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
