MINERSVILLE - Winning is something the Marian volleyball team has done quite a bit lately.

With last night's 25-22, 25-20, 25-10 victory over Nativity, the Fillies have now won 36-straight matches and three consecutive District 11 Class A titles.Marian followed last year's district crown with a PIAA Class A championship, and expectations for another state title have remained high after such a dominant run this season.One would think such high standards would be accompanied by immense pressure and stress.But a quick glance at the Fillies' pregame routine offers a different perspective on how the team prepares."I like to stay loose and have fun," said senior Lauren Nietz. "Having fun is the best part. I get pumped, but I don't get too nervous."And that mentality, no matter the situation, comes from longtime head coach John Fallabel."They're very focused. But being loose is the key," Fallabel noted. "At practice we're extremely intense...I scream, I yell, I carry on."But at the end of the day, it's a game. You're supposed to be able to come out and have fun and play the game. So we practice really hard so that when they come to the game, they can have fun."Because of that relentless preparation, Marian (22-0) also comes into each match with a belief that it can, and will win."We come into every match with a lot of confidence, which is something we need to have," senior Abby O'Donnell said. "We have a lot of intensity because we can't underestimate any team that we play."Even though we played Nativity during the season, they're a rival for us so we knew that they would come out strong. So we had to come in with the mindset that we weren't going to let them get one game from us."The Green Wave (18-5) didn't, which extended the Fillies' streak of three-game sweeps to 23."We play our game and we do what we have to do and we stick to the basics," senior Alex Stroia said of the team's approach. "We have a deep bench and with their help we're able to do what we do every game."And Fallabel knows those role players are just as important to the team's success as any of his starter's contributions."I have very good players on the bench; we're very deep," he said. "Everybody contributes in different ways. They do well and they love to play the game. They love to be together and they're all close friends. And all of that stuff is part of it, and it all goes into coaching any team."Even the seniors that don't play are wonderful. They understand what's going on and why they're not playing. They don't whine or cry. They lead the cheers and do all that they can."As a player that's been a part of much success at the varsity level over the past few years, Nietz know how important the playing time can be for younger players."That's the best thing that could happen to them, honestly," she said, "because they know what it's like and they're already getting the experience, and experience is the best thing you could have as a young player."One of those young players is freshman Jasmine Mooney, who has made her mark throughout the season coming off the bench.Regardless of her role now, Mooney is anticipating being a part of many more successful teams in the future."I feel like it's the beginning of a long road ahead, beginning with states and hopefully continuing over the next three years," she said. "It's just great being with this team."