The simple fact about the Marian Fillies 2014 volleyball season is that expectations are sky high. Another simple fact is that they have nobody to blame, but themselves.

Usually, when you hear that phrase it's meant with a negative connotation, but in this instance it's most certainly not.The reason for the Fillies worldly hype is that they're coming off a year in which they won a Schuylkill League title, District 11 Class A title, and PIAA Class A State Championship. Gone is Times News Volleyball Player of the Year Grace Boyle and key components Sophie Myers and Ashton Gallasso. However, it's not so much who the Fillies lost, it's who they've got returning that has everybody talking.Seniors, Emily Pilla, Abby O'Donnell, Lauren Nietz, Cassandra Hoban, and Alex Stroia will provide leadership for the Fillies. Pilla, O'Donnell, and Nietz were all on the floor for their state championship run a year ago and they're all expected to return to championship form.Marian head coach John "Doc" Fallabel believes Pilla is the best overall player in the league, while O'Donnell (over 800 assists a year ago) sits second behind Kayla Poluka in Marian's all time assist ranks. Nietz is your prototypical hustler and will most likely do all the dirty work this season for the Fillies. It's not uncommon to see her sliding or diving across the floor to keep a possession alive."This is the year I've been waiting for with this senior class," said Fallabel. "I didn't expect them to come along as fast as they have, so now this year becomes even more exciting for us. A lot of them have been playing together for a very long time now and it's easy to see that they all support each other out there. They're all great girls and they're all extremely focused."Returning along with a strong senior class is junior middle hitter Abby Stankiewitch (6-1) and junior outside hitter Maureen Kloap. Stankiewitch proved to be a force in the middle last season and is looking to take the next step to becoming one of the more dominant middle hitters in the state. Kloap was part of the fearsome threesome of outside hitters with Boyle and Pilla a year ago and is probably the most athletically gifted of all the Fillies."Abby Stankiewitch could really be a monster at the net this season," said Fallabel. "She wants it and she wants it bad. She has really dedicated herself to the sport and she has a passion for the game that only the best ones have. Maureen is so athletic and has improved so much from last season and we're looking for her and Emily (Pilla) to really have a good year for us."As usual the talent is there for the Fillies. Now, it's all about putting it together and rising to the expectations that have been put in front of them. If history is any indication if the Fillies can answer the bell then Marian faithful could be in for yet another wild ride.