DAPHNE, Alabama — For the third time this season, the No. 1-ranked 3A team in the state — Bayside Academy — defeated the top-ranked 6A club, McGill-Toolen Catholic. The Lady Admirals improved to 3-1 in the series with a 25-21, 25- 17, 23-25, 27-25 victory after dropping the 2012 opener to the Dirty Dozen at Mc-T before bouncing back to defeat them twice in tournament play.

"It means a lot to beat them here," said Bayside coach Ann Schilling. "Especially for my seniors Gabby (Deshotel) and Virginia (Pittman) but for everybody, too. They have all been really working hard to get better.

"But this rivalry is always a big thing no matter what the rankings are and I'm just proud of how we played--not that we were perfect, but we limited our mistakes and applied our game plan. Made adjustments. Some that worked. Some that didn't. But It was fun. The atmosphere was electric. The crowd was great, our students and parents really came out in full force for us and it was nice to play in front of the fans."

Schilling said her players' and the team's mechanics have been steadily improving since the season started.

"I thought our passing was outstanding for most of the night, our serve receive was really good. Syd (setter Sydney Chandler) did a good job of distributing the ball like we planned and made some nice plays out of (what) -- like I said-- were some of the best passing we've had. Overall, I'd say I'm pleased with how far we have come since August. But you want to keep building."

Pittman had 19 kills, five blocks, four aces and 12 digs; Deshotel added 16 kills, two blocks and eight digs; Chandler had seven digs and 47 assists; Morgan Dulaney had 14 kills, four blocks, four aces and 14 digs; Jhalen Caffey had six kills, two aces and eight digs and Madison Matthews scored 10 digs and two aces.

McGill-Toolen was led by Danielle Harbin's 27 kills and 10 digs; Katelyn Bobinger's 12 kills and four digs and Resi Rogers' 36 assists. Mary Alex Barter added six kills; Mary Frances Seiter 10 digs, and Sharon Williams had 10 digs with six assists.

The Dirty Dozen's coach Gretchen Boykin said she was proud of her team for fighting back in game three to avoid the sweep.

"I was proud of the fact that we didn't fold," she said. "We fought back and that showed a ton. I was proud of our senior leadership, I thought that they really inspired their teammates. In games one and two, we could have stepped it up more but we were down 0-2 after that.

"But this level of competition always helps. The atmosphere. The noise factor. It all helps. It helps them and us as as we get ready for the last part of the season when every match counts. We will face some 6A teams that are big up front and play aggressively like Bayside does."

Bayside improved to 32-2 overall. Mc-T falls to 36-6. Both teams remain undefeated in their area-league standings. The Lady Ads travel to the Danville tournament this weekend then finish out the regular season at home against 3A Area 1 T.R. Miller Oct. 1, 4A power UMS-Wright Oct. 2, Birmingham behemoth Hoover (6A) Oct. 4 and defending 5A state champion Saint Paul's Oct. 9. The Dirty Dozen schedule lists a visit to St. Paul's Oct. 2 and an Oct. 5 trip to Guntersville.