Butler girls volleyball, led by Audrey Lehman and Channing Popovich, have embraced underdog role
BUTLER TWP — Butler’s next two section girls volleyball opponents include North Allegheny and Pine-Richland — two of the three teams ahead of them in the league standings.
And they faced North Catholic, the third team, Thursday night.
Only the top three in the final standings will qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.
Entering play Thursday, the Golden Tornado sported a 10-4 overall record, but were on the wrong side of the playoff picture with a 3-4 section mark.
“Seneca Valley’s in there, too ... We play in the strongest section in the state,” Butler coach Meghan Lucas said. “At times, that gets frustrating. But our girls take it on as a challenge.”
Put seniors Audrey Lehman and Channing Popovich at the top of that list.
The pair are among nine seniors on the team who have been with the program since seventh grade. Lehman leads the Tornado in kills with 253. Popovich is among the top four in that category with 120 and has 46 blocks. Both are among the team leaders in other categories, as well.
“We relish the underdog role. We’re used to it,” Lehman said. “It encourages us to play together and play with confidence ... and we know we’re good enough to knock off some of those teams.”
Lehman and Popovich both recalled a win over Canon-McMillan last season as the on-court highlight of their volleyball careers thus far.
The Big Macs were ranked second in the WPIAL when they came to the Tornado gym last year, losing to Butler in four sets.
“Winning that match proved we could do it,” Popovich said. “It gave us a high level of confidence that has led into this season.”
Most of Butler’s players play club volleyball during the offseason. Lehman played for Pitt Elite while Popovich played for Pitt United.
“There’s so many of them out there,” Lucas said. “I love the fact they’re all playing. It’s more reps, more experience. Every time you touch the ball, you get better.”
Lehman likes the fact the Tornado players compete for different teams.
“I’ve been on club teammates with players from other teams in our section,” she said. “You pick up some of their tendencies and strengths on the court. That helps during our high school season.”
An outside hitter, Lehman joins Raina Lewandowski in playing all six positions on he court. She rarely takes a break during the course of a match.
“Audrey helps give us consistency and continuity on the court,” Lucas said. “She is so athletic and is an explosive, powerful hitter.”
Lehman credits the back row for her high kill numbers.
“The set is so important there,” she said. “Our defensive players do a great job of directing me where to hit the ball. They can read where the opposing players are and help me find an opening.”
Lehman and Popovich are Tornado track and field members as well. While Lehman runs the 400 meters and 4x400 relay, Popovich does the long jump, high jump and triple jump.
Lucas described Popovich as a middle hitter “who is very quick, jumps high off the floor and hits a high ball that is very difficult for the opposing front row to block.”
Popovich described her biggest assets as “maintaining a positive attitude and lifting my teammates up. Blocking is probably my strength on the court.
“The biggest thing I’ve gained from being part of the program is teamwork skills and team building skills.”
Lehman said “training and doing everything together, on and off the court ... Some of our best friends are on this volleyball team.”
Gabby Lucas, a former libero who played volleyball for her mother at Butler and for Grove City College, is in her first year as an assistant coach with the Tornado.
She recognizes how Lehman and Popovich have turned the team’s underdog role into a positive.
“They are incredible leaders and are dominant as hitters,” Lucas said. “All of the seniors have stayed dedicated to the program and have built a positive culture that can last for a long time.
“They’ve got the mentality to beat some of these top teams. Butler isn’t just a country school with a bunch of farming. We are so much more than that, and these girls are out to prove that.”
