DAPHNE — The Lady Admirals punched their ticket to the Elite Eight state volleyball tournament Thursday with a 25-7, 25-8, 25-15 sweep of Dadeville High in the 3A sub-state round at Bayside Academy's Louise Moorer Gym.

The sub-state match is the final hurdle to the state tournament. Ranked No. 1 in the state in class 3A, Bayside, now 47-17 on the 2009 season, will play their first match Wednesday at the Pelham Civic Center.

The trip to the final eight is the 23rd straight for Bayside coach Ann Schilling who notched win No. 1003 of her 23-year career Thursday in the Lady Admirals' final home court appearance of the year. The ride to the state championships is a journey she has never tired of.

"This is the best time of the year," she said. "It's always fun to go up there. We're all excited. You just want each group, each team to succeed, do well. Each year you try to just get them prepared and this is what they work for."

Bayside is working on extending their seven-straight, state-title run to eight, but first they have to get to the championship match.

"Everybody is playing pretty well right now. I look at the stats and it's looking good. We're playing like a team right now and that's what you want."

Against Dadeville, Bayside was led in kills by Savannah Simmons and Maggie Niemeyer with seven each; Jhalen Caffey had six, Virginia Pittman five and Rachel Cooper three; in blocks Cooper led with four, Simmons two, Caffey and Pittman had one each; in service aces Pittman had 11 and Niemeyer five; Pittman had three digs, Simmons two and Sydney Chandler had 21 assists.

For the year, Simmons has 550 kills, Gabby Deshotel has 305 blocks and Pittman has 138 service aces.