HOMEWOOD, Alabama - Bayside Academy defended its 2011 championship of the annual Margaret Blalock Memorial Tournament with a near flawless run to the 2012 title Saturday at Homewood High School.

The Class 3A No. 1-ranked Lady Admirals became the third team to win back-to-back gold in the prestigious tournament with a 25-16, 25-17 sweep over the Class 6A No. 1-ranked Dirty Dozen of McGill-Toolen Catholic. Bayside seniors Virginia Pittman (60 kills, 12 blocks, five aces, 24 digs) and Gabby Deshotel (48 kills, seven blocks, six aces and 25 digs) continue to lead the team with junior Morgan Dulaney adding 31 kills, three blocks, 13 aces and 28 digs; freshman Lauren Chastang posting 18 kills and junior Sydney Chandler setting for 155 assists.

The 7-0 run through the pool and elimination rounds took Bayside from 49-2 to 56-2 overall continuing their unbeaten streak to 52 consecutive match wins with only 6A Mountain Brook forcing a three game match early Saturday 21-25, 25-17, 15-12. But the Lady Ads cruised through the playoffs defeating Mountain Brook 25-11, 25-11 in the quarterfinals and Hoover 25-19, 25-16 in the semis. In pool play opponents struggled to score double digits on the 10-time-defending state champs who took rapid-fire wins over Oxford 25-8, 25-12, Briarwood Christian 25-6, 25-16 and Austin 25-4, 25-9.

Even somewhat hard to please head coach Ann Schilling who led Bayside to their first Blalock title in 1993 and another in 2003 admits this team is pretty good—at least so far.

“I was extremely pleased with how consistent we played this weekend,” she said. “We still continue to get better and are playing very well as a team right now. We just have to stay focused and continue on our path.”