The Marian volleyball program has experienced a ton of success over the past couple of years, and there are certainly statistics and accolades to prove it:

• 25-match win streak in 2014• 39-game win streak through the 2013 and '14 seasons• 0 sets lost in the 2014 season until its state championship game vs. Greensburg CC• Two back-to-back PIAA Class A championship appearances in 2013 and '14• One PIAA Class A championship title in 2013.The list goes on, and it's likely that many of these impressive accomplishments wouldn't have been possible without the consistent play and leadership of senior right outside hitter Emily Pilla, the 2014 Times News Volleyball Player of the Year."I'm very humble to be chosen for this award," Pilla said. "It's an elite group, and to be a part of it is truly amazing, and I can't thank everyone enough for all of their support."Pilla has been a four-year starter for the Fillies' varsity squad, but has been involved with the Marian program much longer than that."The first time she came to camp was probably in fifth grade when Jen Blasko was helping us out," Marian head volleyball coach John "Doc" Fallabel recalled. "She taught Emily her approach. Emily came back and had perfect technique after that. She had natural ability, and I couldn't wait until she came up through high school."Pilla said, "All of my coaches pushed me to do my very best and reach my potential. Also, when I was down, my teammates and my family were always right there to pick me right back up."Fallabel couldn't recall Pilla missing any games during her career due to injury, but said she once checked herself out of a match during a lopsided win to get some of her friends and younger players into the contest."That's the kind of person she is," Fallabel said. "Watching her grow up and excel into a great young volleyball player who achieved all of her potential was great."We put these girls though a lot during practices, she's one who came out of it who realized what needed to be done in order to be the best that she could be. Emily is one of the few girls that understood what it took in order to be where she wanted to be. It's a year-round commitment to play this sport, and she got it.""I've learned that I'm capable of many things," Pilla said. "You need to go through all of the blood, sweat and tears, and it's definitely a hard process. You need to keep your head up and know that you can do anything that you tell yourself you can do."The Fillies defeated the Cochranton Cardinals in three straight sets in 2013 to win the class A title. The talented Pilla played a huge part during the '13 postseason run and was a big reason why expectations were so high for the Fillies heading into 2014."She came into her own last season, and certainly led the team the last two years," Fallabel said. "She's definitely one of the top players at her position in the area, for sure. She's a great kid who comes from a great family."Pilla's impressive individual accomplishments include 11th all-time in kills at Marian Catholic High School and first all-time at Marian Catholic as right side hitter in kills, digs and aces."We knew everyone was out to get us this year as we were defending state champs," Pilla said. "We had a lot of pressure on us. Although we came up just a bit short (to Greensburg CC), we put two trophies in that trophy case, which is amazing, and I couldn't have asked to be a part of a better team.This Marian team might have taken the cake in regard to team chemistry.This group did everything together on and off the court, including their prematch rituals of dances and routines, despite how big the stage was."We warm up pre-game with our dances and everything to get us hyped up to bring out the intensity for the game right from the start. I'm going to miss all of it," she said.Pilla and her Fillies went through their prematch routine one final time at Richland High School before the 2014 state finals, which always seemed to take a bit of pressure off themselves. Although the Fillies came up two points short in five grueling sets against Greensburg, it was some of the most competitive volleyball at any level and Pilla led the way."We were never going to give up, and we had to remain confident. We knew we were capable of anything. We left everything out on the court that day, but hey, life goes on. It's just Marian volleyball, and I can't say enough about it. I couldn't have pictured myself with any other coaches or group of girls."The Marian star plans to attend a four-year college to major in graphic design and play volleyball."She's a quiet leader who does her talking with her playing," said Fallabel. "We had a real tight group of girls, and Emily truly led by example. She had a great attitude about it. She was a great captain, and I'm going to miss her quite a bit."