A step above
BUTLER TWP — Butler was the last team standing in the way of Seneca Valley posting a perfect record in the first half of the Section 3-AAA girls volleyball schedule.
The Golden Tornado were simply unable to keep up with the visiting Raiders.
Senior Sydney Martini had 13 kills as SV cruised to a 25-10, 25-18 and 25-16 victory Tuesday night. The win improves the Raiders to 8-0 overall and 6-0 in section play.
“The girls have bonded well,” said SV coach Karen Martini, who has guided the Raiders to the WPIAL playoffs in each of her eight previous seasons with the team. “Most of them have played together for (several) years. We have a lot of depth this season.”
For Sydney Martini, it's a uniform attitude that has carried the Raiders thus far.
“We've done really well bouncing back after losing a point,” she said. “We don't let that get us down.”
That mentality was on full display Tuesday.
In the first game, SV allowed just four points on Butler's serves. Early on, it was a six-point run with Sydney Martini behind the service line that allowed the Raiders to take control. Melissa Carter contributed a kill and a block and Madison Chapman another kill during the run.
Coach Martini was impressed with Chapman's play from her setter position.
“She has seen time on the court before, but this is her first season as a starter,” she said. “She did a nice job of spreading the ball around tonight.”
Butler showed life in the second game. Down 14-6, the Tornado (3-4, 2-4) reeled off five straight points to cut their deficit to 14-11. Junior outside hitter Autumn Rodgers came up with a block and a kill to give Butler momentum.
But it was short-lived. The Tornado managed just one point with the serve the rest of the game.
SV's Kate Davis tallied five straight service points, including a pair of aces, to give the Raiders a commanding 19-7 lead in the third game.
“Our girls wanted to show they could compete better than we did in that first game,” said Butler coach Dan Mountain. “They are resilient and I'm proud of them, but you fall behind like we did and it's tough to come back.”
Baylee Verner led Butler with seven kills.
With a perfect record, the Raiders are ranked among the best Class AAA teams in the WPIAL.
“We try our best to ignore the rankings,” Sydney Martini said. “We try not to look past our next match.”
Both teams will be back in action on Thursday. Seneca Valley travels to Hampton and Butler hosts Mars.
