DAPHNE, Ala. - Bayside Academy’s Admirals have sailed where no volleyball team in Alabama has gone before. They have claimed the school's 20th consecutive Alabama High School Athletic Association volleyball championship. The Lady Admirals swept East Limestone 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-9) at Bill Harris Arena to claim their and head coach Ann Schilling’s 20^th state volleyball title in a row and its second in Class 5A. Schilling said this year’s team had a special drive to keep the title steak alive and put in the work.

“Very close knit group and the chemistry was outstanding,” she said. “These seniors were terrific. They really embraced the younger players and took them in. They are also a very talented group.”

The Admirals have now won state crowns during that streak in five classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and now 5A). Bayside now has 30 state volleyball titles overall, another state and national high school record.  Schilling has  coached her teams to 27  of those  state championship crowns.
     The Admirals’ current streak began in 2002 with a Class 2A state crown. Since then, Schilling has guided Bayside to titles in 3A, 4A and now 5A.
     Leading Bayside on the court to their 57-6 overall record this year was Class 5A tourney MVP Blakeley Robbins. The sophomore setter had 33 assists and eight digs in the win. Caroline Chastang had 11 kills and eight digs, Ella Broadhead added 10 kills and two service aces, and Luci Wilkinson contributed 24 digs and six assists.

    East Limestone ((46-8), coached by Nicole Eslick, were playing in the state finals for the school’s first time. Riley Carwile and Bryanna Johnson each had seven kills and Bailey Baker had 16 assists. Johnson also had 11 digs and Amy Rice had nine.
    
Class 5A All-Tourney Team
     Blakeley Robbins, Bayside Academy (MVP); Ella Broadhead, Bayside Academy; Luci Wilkinson, Bayside Academy; Caroline Chastang, Bayside Academy; Riley Carwile, East Limestone; Bryanna Johnson, East Limestone.

In other Baldwin state tournament action

Young Lady Makos take state runner-up Red Map trophy
Class 2A Championship
Addison (48-6) 3, Orange Beach (30-17) 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-18)

Class 1A Championship

Bayshore Christian 3, Woodland 0

Defending 1A champion BCS Eagles take 1A runner-up trophy at state
    BIRMINGHAM – Ashlyn Whiteside led Bayshore (24-25) with 12 kills and 16 digs. Ella Crooms added five kills, while Molly Brown and Molly Parker had four kills apiece. Brooke Kearney dished out 26 assists. Bayshore coach David Omtvedt said the future remains bright for his program.

 “We will be back here next year,” he said. 

The defending 1A champion Bayshore Christian Eagles earned a 27-25, 25-14, 25-18 first-round victory over Marion County 3-1 and advanced to the 1A semifinals to play Woodland. Ashlyn Whiteside led Bayshore Christian  (24-24) with 19 kills, four digs, three assists and two aces in the semifinal win. Brooke Kearney dished out 20 assists to go with three digs, and Brooke Raimo had 22 digs. Molly Parker added seven kills, and Molly Brown had four blocks.
Donoho edged the Bayshore Eagles in a close first game. DHS then won the next two for the state title. The Eagles bring back the Red Map runner-up trophy back to Baldwin County.

Bayshore got 22 kills and 10 aces from Ashlyn Whiteside. Brooke Raimo added 20 digs and nine aces, and Brooke Kearney had 26 assists and eight aces. Molly Brown contributed 10 blocks.

Class 2A quarterfinals, semifinals

Orange Beach 3, Spring Garden 2

   In the closest battle of the quarterfinals, Orange Beach (30-16) fell behind 2-0 before rallying to win the match and the semifinal berth that came with it by winning the final three sets. The final tally was 15-25, 22-25, 25-10, 25-22, 15-6.
    Senior Hannah Marsh had 32 kills, two blocks and three digs for the Makos of Coach Jackie Arnold.  Outside hitter Amelia Edgeworth also had 23 kills, two blocks and five aces, Anabelle Avery chipped in 13 kills, seven blocks and three aces, and Mary Elizabeth Alford had 25 kills and nine assists. Setter Ensley Keel also had 63 assists, nine kills and five blocks.
The Makos advanced to the championship to meet No. 2 ranked Addison in the 2A finals. But Orange Beach could not match up with the defending 2A champions as AHS swept the title match 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-19) and OBHS brings home the Red Map Trophy with Edgeworth, Keel and Marsh named to the All-Tournament team.

Class 7A Quarter Finals

Thompson 3, Fairhope 0

    Thompson advanced to the semifinals for the second straight season, earning a 25-8, 25-16, 28-26 victory over Fairhope.
    For Fairhope (29-17), Ryley Harrison, Kate Murray and Abby Nelson were singled out by coach Lacy Powell for strong play.

Thompson was led by Katilyn Grant led with 10 kills, three blocks and three digs, and Caroline Canaday had nine kills, 15 digs and two aces. Bri Wilson contributed 14 digs, six kills and two aces, and Baylee Southern filled the stat sheet with 14 digs, 11 assists, five kills and two blocks. Madison Touhey had 17 assists and 10 digs.

 Class 4A Quarter Finals

  Madison County 3, St. Michael Catholic 1

    The Tigers (40-14), coached by Laurie Pierce, got 23 kills, 17 digs and two aces from Bailey Duckett to earn a 16-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19 victory over St. Michael Catholic. Madison County advances to play defending champ Montgomery Academy in the semifinals later today at 5 p.m. Erika Whisante added 16 assists and five digs, Trinity Thompson had eight kills and 16 digs, and Laylah Sanders contributed five kills and five digs. Ava Gustafson had six blocks.
   For St. Michael Catholic, coached by Missy Williams, Claire Hayes tallied 13 kills and three blocks, and Caroline Bailey added 10 blocks. Regan Bushaw had 31 assists and two aces from her setter spot. The SMCHS Cardinals finished the season
32-12.

51^st State Volleyball Championships

Class 1A Championship
Donoho (55-9) 3, Bayshore Christian (24-25) 0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-17)
Class 2A Championship
Addison (48-6) 3, Orange Beach (30-17) 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-18)

Class 3A Championship
Trinity Presbyterian (47-7) 3, Montgomery Catholic (39-8) 1 (28-26, 17-25, 25-10, 25-22)

Class 4A Championship
Montgomery Academy (27-15) vs. Westminster Christian (40-9), 2 p.m.

Class 5A Championship
Bayside Academy (57-6) 3, East Limestone (46-7) 0 (25-13, 25-13), 25-9)

Class 6A Championship
Mountain Brook (43-12) 3, St. Paul’s Episcopal (45-10) 0 (25-17, 27-25, 25-19)

Class 7A Championship
McGill-Toolen Catholic (39-11) vs. Spain Park (46-4), noon
Visit AHSAA.com for more state championship scores and results.