(Butler, PA) The Butler County Community College volleyball team enters a 2021 season with first-year players who will seek the program’s sixth Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference title in a row and third consecutive regional crown.
The Pioneers open a 13-game regular-season schedule at 6 p.m. Sept. 1 by hosting Penn State-Greater Allegheny.
BC3 did not play in 2020 as a result of a National Junior College Athletic Association decision to postpone athletics with regard to COVID-19.
The Pioneers in 2019 finished 19-5, won their fifth consecutive WPCC title, then repeated as champions in the NJCAA Division III Region XX.
BC3 was also inexperienced when it entered the 2015 season with only one returning player, said Rob Snyder, who is entering his 22nd year as coach with 395 career victories. The Pioneers in 2015 finished 23-5, and won the first of what would become five consecutive WPCC titles and the eighth of 10 NJCAA Division III Region XX crowns.
The Pioneers have had 11 consecutive winning seasons and 18 under Snyder. BC3’s five consecutive WPCC titles ties the conference mark it set in claiming crowns from 2002-2006.
Five of the 12 first-year players on BC3’s roster who will chase the Pioneers’ sixth WPCC title in a row are 5-foot-9 or taller. Aslyn Pry, a Moniteau High graduate, is a 5-10 middle hitter. Outside hitters Breanna Reisinger, Lincoln; Abby Granato, Mohawk; and Josie Rupp, Redbank Valley, are 5-9, as is middle hitter Claire Kile, Harvest Baptist.
“We have good height on this roster across the board,” said Snyder, who is also the college’s director of student life and athletics.
Logan Barnhart, Moniteau, and Morgan Jack, Knoch, will play setter and Lainey Tobolewski, Seneca Valley, libero.
“I’m very excited about this team,” Snyder said. “This team has one of the highest ceilings of any teams I’ve had.”
BC3 follows its 2021 opener against Penn State-Greater Allegheny by visiting Penn State-Shenango, Penn Highlands Community College, Penn State-New Kensington and the Community College of Allegheny County.
“What I am most looking forward to on the court is what the mentality is in the first few games and the level of competitiveness,” Snyder said. “Every year you are looking at the same thing. Do they fight through problems? Do they let down? Do they want to put teams away? You just never really know what the makeup of your team is going to be until you get out there and play.”
The Pioneers’ roster includes Knoch graduates Madison Raypush, outside hitter; Riley Danner, defense; Kylee Bender, defense; and Morgan Frishkorn, opposite hitter.
BC3’s golf program also begins in September. Athletes and coaches must comply with terms of the college’s athletics programs for the fall semester, which include routine testing for COVID-19 in order to participate.