BUTLER TWP — Different names. Same goal.

The Butler County Community College women’s volleyball team begins its 2023 season Aug. 22 when it travels to Westmoreland CC. This is the 24th season for head coach Rob Snyder, who boasts a 432-160 career record.

The Pioneers were 19-4 last year, winning the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference and Region XX titles before falling in the district playoffs.

“We’re used to having a lot of player turnover, but this year is more of a challenge for us that way,” Snyder said. “We only have three players coming back, so we had to go out and get some people.

“What I’m happy about is that all of our players are excellent volleyball players. Of the 12 on the roster, 10 of them can play anywhere on the court. Last year, we were a more specialized team.

“This year, we should have a lot of competition for playing time. That’s always a good problem to have,” Snyder added.

The returning players are sophomore outside hitters Amber Mauer from Karns City and Zoe Morley from Portersville Christian, and defensive specialist Abby Young from Redbank Valley. The other nine players are freshmen.

“We have quality players, depth and competitive people,” Snyder said. “ We’ll play a bit of a different style this year. We were more of an offensive team last season. This year, we’ll play more defensively, we’ll be scrappy to make up for a lack of size.”

Morley, at 5-foot-9, is the tallest player on the Pioneers. Seven of the players are 5-6 or shorter.

None of that matters to Snyder.

“Our goals never change,” he said. “Win the conference, win the region, get to nationals. We have the talent to do that.”

A-C Valley graduate Lexi Ruckdeschel is the lone middle hitter listed on the roster, but others are capable of producing inside. Outside hitter Aryana Girvan was an all-state player at Clarion, outside hitter Jozee Weaver an all-state player at Keystone.

Karns City graduate Rosie Carden and Laurel graduate Johnna Hill figure to be the Pioneers’ setters while Knoch graduate Nina Szymanski is the libero. Fellow Knoch grad Alyssa Gallagher figures to see time as an outside hitter.

“Lexi Ruckdeschel figures to be an impact player for us,” Snyder said. “Both of those Knoch girls are good and we’ve attracted quality players from schools a bit farther out.

“Most years, we get a lot of players committing to us over the summer, once their options didn’t work out elsewhere. This year, we filled our roster earlier. Players wanted to come here. I think our reputation and consistency as a program is helping us that way.”

Other freshmen on the team are outside hitter Courtney Clark from Rocky Grove and opposite hitter Tara Metz from Butler Baptist.

“We spend a lot of time on our setters,” Snyder said. "Four of our last five setters have been All-Americans. Setting, serve and receive, that’s been our prime focus. That’s the most important part of the game.“

Butler graduate Autumn Rodgers returns as Snyder's assistant coach. Christina Dreher, Chelsea Yeckel and Aslyn Pry are also on staff.

Pry, a Moniteau graduate, was an All-American for BC3 last season who will be playing for Slippery Rock University this fall.

“Aslyn has been a tremendous asset this summer,” Snyder said. “She handled our summer league, helped run our camps, was in on ordering uniforms ... She’s done all this while getting ready for her own season.

“It feels good that we have former players who care about the program that much.”