Their play produced countless highlights, milestone moments and unforgettable memories.

Those efforts didn’t go unnoticed.

Both Marian and Panther Valley were recognized when the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association recently released its 2020 All-State teams.

Seniors Alivia Karchner (OH), Tatianna Zeleniak (L) and Rebecca Dzuranin (MH) and junior Ashlyn Klitsch (S) were selected to the Class 1A team for the Fillies, who won a district title and advanced to the PIAA Class 1A final.

It is the third consecutive selection for Karchner, who was also named the District 11 Class 1A Player of the Year, and first for Zeleniak, Dzuranin and Klitsch.

Seniors Erika Dubosky (MB/S) and Alexis Cooper (L) were named to the Class 2A team for the Panthers, who also advanced to the District 11 Class 2A final this season, their fifth straight appearance after winning four consecutive titles.

It is the second all-state honor for Dubosky, who was also named the Schuylkill League Division 2 Volleyball Player of the Year this season, and the first selection for Cooper.

Fillies foursome

Down 2-1, the Fillies rallied past Nativity in five sets to claim the district title, avenging two previous five-set losses to the Green Wave this season. Marian also topped Sacred Heart Academy in five sets to reach the state final.

“They came up big in big moments,” said Marian head coach John Fallabel. “Tatianna played the game of her life (against Nativity); Rebecca played solid throughout the playoffs, Alivia played solid and she had a great game against Nativity and Ashlyn has really come into her own. They all came together.”

Karchner led Marian with 232 kills. She also had 95 digs, 50 aces, and 11 blocks. Zeleniak was the team leader in both digs (219) and aces (59). Dzuranin was a force on both the front line and back line, piling up 93 kills, 32 blocks, 77 digs and 47 aces. Klitsch was the playmaker for the offense with 450 assists. She also had 88 digs and 31 aces.

“On the back of their shirts this year was, ‘On a mission to protect the tradition,’” said Fallabel. “That’s what they did. Achieving what they achieved, this is a great group, and I’m proud of them.”

Fallabel also praised his assistant coaches, Chris Fallabel, Maria Currie, Rachel Krajcirik and Janet Dzuranin, for the work they did with the team during the preseason and throughout the end of the year.

It helped produce a remarkable season in the midst of trying times during the coronavirus pandemic.

“These girls had the talent; all they had to do was learn how to bring that talent forward,” said John Fallabel. “Learn how to achieve. Learn how to grow, as people, and accept certain things, and limitations that you have, limitations that other people have and grow from that. And these girls did. It’s a tribute to them, from the beginning of the season until the end. I’m very happy for them.

“I knew I had a really strong team. It was a strong class of seniors that had some versatility and skills, and we had some younger players that stepped up.”

It proved to be the perfect combination for the Fillies.

Panther pair

Dubosky did it all for the Panthers this season, as she compiled 226 kills, 45 aces, 14 blocks, 53 digs and 114 assists.

“For Erika, as an All-State player last year, I had very high expectations for her, and she knew that,” said second-year Panther Valley head coach Emilie Baker. “I think this year she stepped into a new role as a setter and kind of just did it without hesitation. She knew that this was her job, and she’s got to do what she always does best.

“And I think she really honed in with the senior group and took on a leadership role this year as well.”

Cooper enjoyed a stellar season, leading the Panthers with 319 digs, including the 500th of her career. She also had 18 aces.

“Alexis is a great kid. She works extremely hard. And for this being her first All-State selection, I think it just showed how much she has progressed,” said Baker. “When we came in, we had days where we would drive her and she would be diving all over the place, and she never gave us a hard time about it.

“She is such a team player, and such a coachable kid, that we are really going to miss a kid like her next year. She really pushed through this year and gave 100%, and we couldn’t ask anymore of the kid.”

Both Dubosky and Cooper were also District 11 Class 2A First Team All Stars.

The pair will be hard to replace, having served as vital parts of Panther Valley’s success in recent years.

But they have also helped ensure that the players who come after them maintain the program’s winning tradition.

And assuredly create some memories of their own.