JOHNSTOWN - Saturday was about more than just a volleyball match for Marian Catholic.

The PIAA Class A championship final against District 7 champion Greensburg Central Catholic was the culmination of an unprecedented run for a number of seniors that have helped the Fillies reach great heights during their careers.The group of Cassandra Hoben, Alex Stroia, Rachel Meier, Lauren Nietz, Kaylee Ceci, Abby O'Donnell and Emily Pilla has won two straight Schuylkill League titles and three consecutive District 11 Class A championships.Though they weren't able to capture their second consecutive state crown, falling 25-23, 15-25, 25-10, 25-18, 15-13 to the Centurions at Richland High School, there was a sense of fulfillment and pride that surrounded the accomplished group afterwards."It's amazing. In the beginning of the season, this was obviously our goal, to get back here," O'Donnell said of returning to the state final. "We didn't know if it was possible. But we had an amazing season, going undefeated and making it here."Entering play Saturday, Marian had won 39 consecutive matches, including 26 by three-set sweeps.Yes, that streak ended against Greensburg Central Catholic. But the opportunity to play one more match meant more than the eventual outcome."It's really special because, honestly, I'd rather get second place here with this team than win with anyone else," said Nietz. "They're my best friends and my sisters."And that bond, maybe more than anything else, is what those that have been a part of this Marian team will take with them long after this season is over."They're my family. I've learned that no matter what happens, I'm always going to carry this with me," said Stroia. "There was a lot of pressure on us, but to be able to play with my best friends for four years, there's really nothing else that I could ask for."With countless tournaments throughout the year, winter league play after the season and camps throughout the summer, it would be understandable for any team to suffer from a sort of volleyball-burnout.But as O'Donnell explained, the Fillies take plenty of time to step away from the routine that comes with competing at such a high level."Even at our practices, we have dance parties and we'll have spaghetti dinners on the weekends…we're not just friends on the court, but off the court, too," she said. "I think that's what gets us so far, just being so close to each other. And that's what really picks us up in the end. "The man that has overseen those dance parties and hosted many of those spaghetti dinners is John Fallabel, now in his 12th season as the head volleyball coach at Marian.And even after what seemed like such a devastating loss on Saturday, Fallabel, like he's done so many times before, was able to put the situation in perspective."They'll get over it," he said. "Somewhere down the line, they're going to sit back and they're going to be able to go into that trophy case and know they put two major state trophies in there."We have four of them - two firsts and two seconds. This is a great group of girls and they have a lot to be proud of."Even though this chapter is over, Fallabel and the Marian program still have a lot to look forward to in the future."We're going to reload," the coach said. "I've got Abigail (Stankiewitch), Maureen (Kloap), Jasmine (Mooney) and Courtney (McCall) all coming back, and these girls were able to get experience this season. I've got a solid team coming back next year. We'll be ready."Fallabel isn't the only one with high expectations for what next year's Fillies can accomplish."It was good for them to get a taste of this," said Hoben, also one of the team's captains. "Once we lost, I talked to all of them and told them that next year is your year. You'll help the legacy live on."And that legacy is something this team will always be a part of."FSU: Fillies Stand United," said Nietz. "And that's just what we do."