The Panther Valley volleyball team had a pretty solid year in 2013. They finished the season with an 11-4 record, qualifying for the district 11 playoffs.

This season, the Lady Panthers are returning six varsity starters and are expected to make some noise in the always competitive Schuylkill League Division 1.Returning experienced players is always nice, but this year's Panther Valley roster has an added kick.Five out of the six returnees and six out of the 19 total players on the Panther Valley roster have an uncanny chemistry. They know what each other is always thinking. They spend everyday with each other, and sometimes they might even finish each other's sentences.How are all these girls linked so closely do you ask? The answer is simple.This year's PV group has three different sets of sisters on their roster.Marley Mikovich (Sr.) and Jamie Mikovich (So.), Richelle Van Horn (Sr.) and Kelsey Van Horn (So.), and last, but not least Macey Markovich (Jr.) and Chloe Markovich (Fr.) are the sisters that will help make up the Lady Panthers team this season.Even more impressive is that five out of the six starters on this year's PV squad will be sisters.Any of us who have siblings know that there are always little fights or squabbles that go on. So the question that needs to be asked is this:Is having so many sisters on the court at one time a good thing or a bad thing?All the girls didn't hesitate for one second when asked that very question."It's great playing with your friends in any sport," said Richelle Van Horn. "It's even better though when you get to play with your sister.""Last season I was really excited when Jamie became a part of our team," said Marly Mikovich. "I feel like we all communicate out there better because we're sisters and I hope this season with a year under our belts we get even better at it."An interesting fact about the Van Horn sisters is that they play the same position, which some might think could spark a sibling rivalry. Richelle Van Horn explained that in fact it's the complete opposite."My kid sister and I we play the same position, we're setters and outside hitters," said Van Horn. "We both know where we're supposed to be and we can read each other. If one of us is out of position than we can give each other tips and stuff like that."Having five out of six starters on the court being sisters serves as an advantage in a number of ways. The closeness of the group is never in question and there always is that feeling to have each other's back, which is something junior Macey Markovich alluded to."When you have your sister on the court there's just a certain bond that is there," said Markovich. "It's almost like we can all create just a more powerful attitude towards the game. Also, if something happens where one of us gets down, whom better than to have your back or to bring you back up than your sister?"How about the younger sister group of the Lady Panthers? Chloe Markovich (Fr.), Kelsey Van Horn (So.), and Jamie Mikovich (So.) all have older sisters in the varsity lineup. Is it okay for the younger sister to correct or try and critique the older sister?Once again, emphatically, the girls did not hesitate to answer."There's no filter out there when it comes to helping each other out," said Jamie Mikovich. "If there's something I know she could be doing better than I tell her and I would want her to do the same for me."Whatever approach these six sisters are taking to the game of volleyball it seems to be working and it looks like they will share some unforgettable memories together in the months to come.It also looks like the Lady Panthers "Sister Act" will be pretty hard to contend with in 2013.