It was a Butler County party in Johnstown last November.

Both the Knoch and Freeport volleyball teams went to Richland High School and came home with state titles.

Both are shooting for a repeat this season.

Knoch has two big hitters back in juniors Hannah Rowe and Kennedy Christy and a standout setter in senior Kerrie Fitzpatrick.

The Knights, who used the mantra “Stairway to States” last season are starting a new climb.

“We're going to come up with a new mission,” said Knoch coach Diane Geist.

It may look a lot like the old one.

“I still think we definitely have a strong team,” said Fitzpatrick, the only senior on the roster. “Why can't we do it again?”

There are other teams in the county that have their eyes set on duplicating the magical seasons turned in by the Knights and Yellowjackets.

A sleeper in 4A may just be Butler.

The Golden Tornado are deep and want to build on a playoff appearance last season.

“This is probably the most experienced group of kids I've had,” said Butler coach Meghan Lucas. “Most of them have played outside of the regular season. The more you touch the ball, the better you get at controlling the ball.”

Tornado senior Maria Lucas is one of several standout players in the county who will play all over the court.

Sarah White, who was the only freshman to make the all-state team, will also shift around for Seneca Valley based on the matchups.

Mars also has a burgeoning star in junior Emily Hayward who will be a force in the front row and in the back.

North Catholic under new coach Amanda Fetter, who spent the last five years at Pine-Richland as the head coach, also has a deep and talented roster and may make a push in 2A.

“We have a pretty good core and great leadership,” Fetter said. “I'm excited.”

Following are team-by-team looks at the 2018 volleyball season:

Butler

nCoach: Meghan Lucas

n At the net: Maria Lucas (senior, will play all over), Tabitha Walker (senior, will also set), Sophia Sacriponte (senior), Julia Gibson (senior), Heidi Gross (senior)

n Setting it up: Sophia Lucas (sophomore, will also hit)

n Digging it out: Hope Fiorina (senior, libero), Gabby Lucas (junior), Faith Hansotte (senior)

n Outlook: Butler made the playoffs last season, losing in the first round. The goal this season with an experienced group is to get back to the postseason and make a run.

Seneca Valley

nCoach: Karen Martini

n At the net: Anna DeGraff (junior), Megan Gormley (junior), Brianna Reynolds (junior), Emma Davis (freshman)

n Setting it up: Sarah White (sophomore, will play all over)

n Digging it out: Rachel Broskey (senior, libero), Emily Bedillion (junior), Abigail Adams (junior)

n Outlook: The Raiders aren't a very big team, but they do have all-state selection Sarah White, who can play anywhere on the floor at a high level.

“We're very flexible — we can move people all around and from the front to the back row,” Martini said. “Slow and steady is our goal. We'll try to keep getting better every time out.”

Knoch

nCoach: Diane Geist

n At the net: Hannah Rowe (junior), Kennedy Christy (junior), Skylar Burkett (junior)

n Setting it up: Kerrie Fitzpatrick (senior)

n Digging it out: Kenzie Kerkan (junior)

n Outlook: The defending 3A champions lost a lot to graduation including all-state performer Sarah Armahizer, but the roster is by no means depleted.

“We're going to be a little more balanced at the net, which is a bright spot,” Geist said. “Sarah really dominated as a hitter. She was our go-to person, and for good reason.”

Mars

nCoach: Tami Caraway

n At the net: Alayna Chizmar (senior), Tori Felton (freshman), Ava Black (freshman), Katie Schlegel (sophomore), Beth Long (sophomore)

n Setting it up: Emily Hayward (junior, will play all over), Sydney Bucknum (sophomore)

n Outlook: The Planets are extremely young, but also have 21 freshmen and sophomores on a large roster.

“That bodes well for the future,” Caraway said. “Hopefully we can make a run at people this year. I am optimistic. They have worked really hard and I've seen signs of improvement. But this is a very tough section (with Knoch, Hampton and Central Valley). We're going to have to step up and go through that to be a very good team.”

Freeport

nCoach: Tom Phillips

n At the net: Haley Graham (senior), Allly DeJidas (senior), Isabella Russo (junior), Sarah Hettich (senior), Lauren Lampus (junior), Mackensey Jack (junior)

n Setting it up: Maddie Clark (junior), Samantha Clark (junior)

n Digging it out: Erica Lampus (freshman, libero), Cora Crytzer (junior, libero), Tori Radvan (junior, will also play at the net)

n Outlook: The Yellowjackets have a strong roster to make a push at defending their PIAA 2A title.

The biggest question is at libero where Freeport will have to replace Claire Crytzer.

Sophomore Cora Crytzer and freshman Erica Lampus will try to fill that void.

“Erica is doing a marvelous job, she and Cora Crytzer,” Phillips said. “I don't think one person can replace Claire Crytzer. We have to do it by committee. Claire was such a leader on the team, such an athlete on our team, such a calming force on our team.”

North Catholic

nCoach: Amanda Fetter

n At the net: Dominique Felix (junior), Alana Felix (junior), Camryn Heitzenrater (senior), Gabriella Mudd (senior)

n Setting it up: Olivia Kaminski (senior)

n Digging it out: Lauren Gaertner (senior, libero), Elizabeth Feczko (senior, libero),

n Outlook: Fetter had stepped down as the Pine-Richland volleyball coach after nine years — five as the head coach — when a friend told her of a late opening at North Catholic.

Fetter came quickly “out of retirement.”

“As soon as I met the kids, I couldn't walk away after that,” Fetter said. “The kids are just awesome.”

Fetter has a dynamic setter in Kaminski and a natural leader in Heitzenrater to set the tone.

“Olivia is very underrated,” Fetter said. “I think she's one of the best setters in the WPIAL.

“Camryn is a phenomenal senior leader.”

Slippery Rock

nCoach: Danielle Busi

n At the net: Madison Chechak (senior), Annika Peale (junior), Lexis Prementine (junior), Tiffany Madison (sophomore), Chyenne Ragle (senior), Lyla Henry (senior)

n Setting it up: Morgan Malinski (senior)

n Digging it out: Taylor Balint (junior)

n Outlook: Since Busi took over two years ago, the Rockets have made steady improvement, including a District 10 playoff berth last season.

Busi is hoping for another big step forward.

“We went to the SRU team camp this summer again and the last couple of years weren't so hot,” Busi said. “This year, I was pretty pleased with how we played. We played well against Corry and A-C Valley. We went toe-to-toe with some good teams. That makes me optimistic and I think we're ready to go.”

Karns City

nCoach: Lisa Nagy

n At the net: Emily Wolfe (senior), Rayna Miller (senior)

n Setting it up: Alyssa Stitt (senior)

n Digging it out: Mackenzie Dunn (senior, libero)

n Outlook: The Gremlins have a strong core of four seniors and some youth that looks to make an impact this season.

“We have talent,” Nagy said. “We're just a little timid right now. We haven't played together a lot and I think we'll get better once we jell. We haven't jelled yet.”

Moniteau

nCoach: Ashley Rumbaugh

n At the net: Madison Bresnehan (senior), Carolyn Kelly (senior)

n Digging it out: Dolce Shunk (senior)

n Outlook: Moniteau's three seniors provide and steady and solid core and have Rumbaugh optimistic.

“I think we're going to be pretty good,” she said. “We're pretty hungry and they've worked very hard.”

A-C Valley

nCoach: Doug Knox

n At the net: Olivia Boocks (senior), Kylee Eaton (senior), Hannah Farrington (junior), Tara Stefanacci (junior), Andrea Meals (sophomore), Mia Sherman (sophomore), Meah Ielase (freshman),

n Setting it up: Kaylie Merwin (senior), Emily Wetzel (junior)

n Digging it out: Rachel Cullen (sophomore, libero)

n Outlook: The Falcons were 18-0 last year until back-to-back defeats in the District 9 title game and the first round of the PIAA playoffs abruptly ended their season.

“I expect big things this year,” Knox said. “I think we have a shot to get back to the District 9 championship game against and to the state tournament.”

Union

nCoach: Diane Thorpe

n At the net: Brynn Davis (senior), Vanessa Remmick (senior), Jada Zitzman (senior), Emma Pritchard (junior), Drew Yoder (junior), Dominika Logue (freshman), Drew Davis (sophomore)

n Setting it up: Morgan Cumberland (sophomore)

n Digging it out: Marli Hawk (senior, libero)

n Outlook: The Damsels will have to replace two stars, Hannah Atzeni and Frankee Remmick, who led them to the District 9 playoffs last season.

But Union is loaded at the net and sophomore Morgan Cumberland has looked good as the primary setter.

The roster is also 22 deep.

“We have a lot of good hitters,” Thorpe said. “Brynn (Davis) has looked fabulous.”