NEWVILLE — You know that old saying ‘it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish’?

Well, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel — but sometimes that good start leads to a strong finish.

And maybe Marian helped this new theory during the PIAA Class A semifinals against Bishop Carroll.

Bishop Carroll owned a commanding 23-20 lead in the first set with the ball in hand. But the Fillies stormed back to win the set with five unanswered points.

“That first set gave us so much confidence,” said Marian libero Toni Galasso, who had 20 digs. “When we have confidence, we just run with it. When we’re under pressure, we just need that one play that gives us confidence. That’s what the runs do for us.”

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That season-defining rally propelled Marian to help edge an extremely talented Bishop Carroll squad 25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19 at Big Spring High School.

“It was a big momentum builder for us,” said Marian’s Carly Kosciolek of the first-set rally. “We came into the game knowing that we were playing a tough team. But I think we had great defense and offense. At the net we have our days when we’re on and off; but today was one of those days that we were on.”

Kosciolek’s kill was Marian’ 21st point of the first set, which got the ball back for the Fillies — for good.

Trailing by two now, Nina Zeleniak’s immediate serve hit the top of the net, and trickled over to drop in for an ace. Her unorthodox ace was deflating for BC.

“I always get scared when that ball comes to me,” said Zeleniak, who had 13 digs and did a little bit of everything for Marian. “I know I just have to get that ball over the net somehow. For that to happen, I saw it go to the top of the net and I thought ‘oh no’ … And then it went over and I said ‘yes’!”

Kosciolek added another kill during the sequence and Jasmine Mooney finished off the set with a smash to go ahead 1-0.

It was crucial to win set one, as BC, who has just one senior, stormed right back to take No. 2.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Zeleniak. “All we saw were their stats. For them to come out and play up to our level; it was a great match. I’m proud of everyone.”

But the first-set heroics, combined with the veteran leadership, helped the Fillies win sets three and four.

And when push comes to shove, not many are better to turn to than Mooney.

Mooney had a massive third set with 27 attacks on her own, which produced nine kills, and she added six digs. But Mooney couldn’t have done it without 15 third-set assists from fellow senior Gianna Agosti, who finished with a whopping 52 for the match.

“I know (Marian head coach) Doc Fallabel every now and then has said ‘set Jasmine’ to Gianna (Agosti),” Mooney explained. “We work really well, but so does the whole team. We always need a pass first from Toni (Galasso), who had an amazing game … I did get fed from the back row more than normal tonight.”

Mooney attacked from everywhere possible, which included many more looks than usual from the back row.

But it paid off, as she ended with 35 kills across the four-set match. Mooney couldn’t be stopped in set No. 3, and helped the Fillies hop in the driver’s seat and speed off to victory lane.

“I think as a team, we did awesome,” Galasso added. “We played well together. Bishop Carroll came out and played awesome; but we played as a team; six people together.”

Maybe the wheel was reinvented. Or maybe it wasn’t. But the fact was that everything came full circle for Zeleniak and the Fillies in the fourth set. She once again found the ball in her hands to serve during Marian’s last run and final point. This time, she was sure of the outcome. Johnstown.

“I just thought to myself ‘Nina, just get this ball over the net’,” she explained. “In the last set, I knew the score was a little farther than it was before. So I placed my serves where I should have.”

Maybe there is a positive correlation between how you start and how you finish after all.

“If you’re down, everyone is going to be down,” Mooney said. “You have to stay positive.”

PURE HUSTLE … Agosti does whatever it takes to win. She collided into the bleachers at full speed during the pivotal third set and stayed in the game. “Gianna Agosti and Jasmine Mooney,” said Fallabel with confidence after the match. “See ya!”

“SEE YA!” IN JOHNSTOWN … Fallabel and his Fillies will play for the PIAA Class A Championship on Saturday at Richland High School at 11 a.m. against Maplewood from District 10, who swept Clarion at Slippery Rock on Tuesday.

TN ON THE ROAD ... We’ll be at Johnstown this weekend. Follow @TheJCarlucci and @PatMat01 for updates and extras from the championship.