PELHAM—"This is our goal every year," said Bayside Academy volleyball coach Ann Schilling. "This is what we work for, plan for. To get here and win it." And so they did. Again. Eight straight Alabama High School Athletic Association state championships, a new state record in any sport, are now in the books.

The Lady Admirals (50-17) came from one game down to rally and win the next three over Montgomery Academy (45-8) 24-26, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21 and win the Class 3A championship Thursday at Pelham Civic Complex.

"Everybody's out to get you and we know that," Schilling, who holds a 1006-314 career-win record said. "During the regular season, we play a lot of bigger teams which helps us prepare. We schedule up and try to put them in high-pressure situations against bigger, better teams. The pressure seems to get a little bigger each year. But they just handle it so well. I'm really proud of these kids."

It was not only the streak in titles that kept going, but in MVP awards as well. Most Valuable Player for the second straight year, senior captain Savannah Simmons was relieved to have passed the torch and the pressure of the keeping the streak alive to the junior class. "It's a lot of pressure for the next class. I know we felt it, but I think they're ready to pick it up and get back here," she said. "I know Maggie Niemeyer can and will lead this this team next year. She can definitely handle it." Niemeyer, a junior, and freshman Virginia Pittman were also named to the 3A All State Tournament team with Simmons.

For the tournament, Simmons led with 42 kills, 17 blocks, four aces and 12 digs. Her senior teammates Lizzie Williams and GiGi Eyre, both defensive and service specialists finished the tournament with 22 and 30 digs each. Williams scored three aces, a back-row kill and Eyre nailed two from the service line.

But the bulk of Schilling's team is young, very young.

"I think the future is bright," she said. "We are young, half the team is eighth and ninth grades, but they stepped up really big. I just couldn't be more proud. We started two eighth graders, two freshman, no sophomores, one junior and three seniors. And I'm especially proud of these three (seniors) up here and the whole team who worked so hard all year to get back here."

Bayside had met Montgomery Academy's Eagles once this year splitting but winning the 2-of-3 game match, but this was the first time they have ever paired off for the state championship.

"We dropped the first one. Had it in our hands, but then blew it," Schilling said. "They played better than we did at the end of that game. Give credit to Montgomery Academy. They are always well coached and they were prepared and they came to play. They put the pressure on us, but we responded. I'm proud of the way we handled that. We persevered."

Montgomery Academy coach Julie Sinclair was proud of her team's effort, especially in game four when Bayside extended a big lead.

"Our level of play was fantastic and I believe they gave 100 percent effort on every play," she said. Sinclair also passed the 1,000 mark this season and has known and coached against Schilling many years. "There was a point in the fourth game when our players could have given up but they didn't. They reached down and played harder than they had the whole game. I have to respect them for that and I'm extremely proud of them. If I had to make a choice of winning or coaching this team, I would choose coaching this team."

Pittman added 31 total kills, 10 blocks, six aces (149 for the year), fellow freshman Gabby Deshotel contributed 28 kills and 35 blocks; Niemeyer had 21 kills, 14 blocks, four aces, 13 digs and seven assists; eighth grader Jhalen Caffey had four kills, 10 blocks;and eighth-grade setter Sydney Chandler had 45 assists.

The Lady Admirals advanced to the championship with a 25-15, 25-16, 25-21 semi final win over the Falcons of Catholic-Huntsville after defeating Pleasant Valley's Raiders 29-27, 25-9, 25-18 in the quarter finals.

Bayside now holds 18 state volleyball titles, McGill-Toolen Catholic — Schilling's alma mater — holds the record with 19. Schilling has coached for 23 seasons at BA and has brought back 15 state championships for the Lady Admirals. Former coach Barbara Henry who preceeded Schilling holds two.

When asked "Is eight enough?" Schilling laughed and said, "No, it's not. It's not enough."