Butler's all-state VB star
Smith is the 1st Tornado player to earn honor





BUTLER TWP— It was a season of firsts for the Butler girls volleyball program.
The Golden Tornado posted the first WPIAL playoff victory in the program's history last fall, defeating Baldwin.
Butler then took eventual WPIALchampion and PIAArunner-up North Allegheny to five games in the next round. No other WPIAL playoff opponent did that.
Now 6-foot-2 senior hitter Becky Smith has been named to the all-state team by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association. No Tornado player had received that honor before. The program dates back to 1976.
"It feels like all our hard work has paid off,"Smith said. "It's nice to finally be considered among the best of the best."
Smith was't talking about herself.
"Every player hopes to get an all-state selection, I guess, and it's an honor. But I'm mostly proud of how our team and program developed over the past four years,"she said.
"To reach the playoffs twice in three years, win a playoff game, then take North Allegheny to the brink ... our performance that night was so satisfying that I didn't really feel that sad that we lost."
Smith had 14 kills and 11 blocks in the playoff loss to NA. With the Tornado trailing 21-16 in Game 3 after losing 25-14 and 25-16 in the first two games, she scored Butler's final four points
Butler stayed alive with wins of 25-23 and 25-22 in Games 3 and 4 before finally falling.
"Becky's best game of the season came in the last game of her career with us,"Butler coach Meghan Lucas said. "She was simply outstanding.
"She deserves the all-state recognition. The fact she played so well in such a marquee game had to help her chances."
North Allegheny coach Dan Schall lauded the play of Smith in that playoff game.
"Icredit Becky Smith for getting them back in the match,"Schall said that night. "She was extraordinary from the end of Game 3 and through the rest of the night."
The top Class AAA50 players in Pennsylvania earn all-state honors. Smith was one of eight players from Butler's section to receive such recognition.
The others were Meghan Franz and Jillian Galloway of Seneca Valley, Gretta Freyermuth and Jackie Lang of North Allegheny, Carolyn Sieger and Julie McCabe of Pine-Richland and Leah Petrovich of Shaler.
Smith was one of the best at nearly any position on the court. She rotated to setter, back row, right or left side of the net.
She led Butler in kills and blocks her senior season as the Tornado won 11 of 16 matches.
"Most big girls are middle hitters, but I enjoyed working at all phases and positions on the court,"Smith said.
Smith played Junior Olympic volleyball with Pittsburgh 3 Rivers North, coached by former Butler County Community College volleyball mentor Rob Snyder.
"Playing on that team helped me. It's always good to get a perspective on your game from more than one coach,"Smith said.
Smith played basketball from second grade through her sophomore year in high school. She gave up that sport to concentrate on volleyball.
"Volleyball was the sport I wanted to play in college. I love the team aspect of the game," she said. "It takes a number of players to get the ball over the net. I felt like I needed to commit to it."
Smith was a three-year starter for Butler.
"She committed to the sport and that commitment paid off," Lucas said. "Becky just keeps getting better."
Smith has narrowed her college choices. Lock Haven and Gannon have expressed interest in her and she is planning a visit to Mercyhurst soon.
Other Butler volleyball players who recently have gone on to play in college include Katie Willison (Slippery Rock), Samantha Harris (Westminster), Kala Schnur (Point Park), Kelsey Rice (Gannon). Ashleigh Huey (Pitt-Johnstown) and Jasmin Mehelich (Butler County Community College).
"That's one of the biggest reasons I coach in this sport," Lucas said of scholarship opportunities. "It can help people with their education.
"There are so many scholarships out there in volleyball. Becky will be a tremendous college player."