BIRMINGHAM — The streak finally came to an end.

Bayside Academy, which had won a national record of 21 straight state volleyball championships on the Alabama High School Athletic Association circuit since 2001, saw its streak end on Tuesday, Oct. 31, in the Class 6A semifinals.

Admiral head volleyball coach Ann Schilling, one of the top four winningest volleyball coaches in the nation, took the setback in stride.

“I will never label this team as the team that didn’t,” Schilling said. “We had so many great things happen with these girls. They were amazing. Our kids have proven they can play with any team in this tournament at any level. At the end of the day, we serve a Mighty God, and that’s all that really matters. I am so proud of my girls.”

Mountain Brook won a grueling battle over the Bayside Academy Admirals 3-2 to advance to Wednesday’s Class 6A state finals. The Spartans from Mountain Brook will face the Spartans from Saraland, who defeated the Spanish Fort Toros in the other state semifinal match Tuesday night.

With its 21 consecutive state titles, Schilling’s Bayside Academy program set a standard that no team in the nation has been able to match. The school’s 31 overall state titles are also a national record.

The Admirals have also set another, even more amazing mark: winning state championships in Class 1A, Class 2A, Class 3A, Class 4A, Class 5A, and last year Class 6A. Bayside Academy is the only AHSAA team to do so.

Mountain Brook, which has a storied history of its own with 6 state championships since 2014, improved to 44-5 with the grueling 3-2 victory. Also Tuesday, Pleasant Valley and Sand Rock advanced to the Class 2A state championship match with 3-0 and 3-1 wins over Washington County and G.W. Long, respectively.

Classes 2A, 3A, 5A and 6A play championship matches on Wednesday, while Classes 1A, 4A and 7A open play at the Birmingham CrossPlex at 9 a.m., with those finals set for Thursday at Bill Harris Arena.

All matches of the 53rd AHSAA Elite Eight State Volleyball Championships are being live-streamed over the NFHS Network subscriber-based platform and can be accessed at nfhsnetwork.com.

MOUNTAIN BROOK 3, BAYSIDE ACADEMY 2

The Spartans clawed back from a 2-1 deficit to win the history-making victory over the Admirals: 25-21, 22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-13.

It ended a streak of 67 straight elimination bracket matches. From 2002-2006 the state tournament consisted of pool play and then a single-elimination championship bracket. Bayside Academy won 149 of 153 matches played during the 21-year streak.

Schilling’s Admirals (46-10) were led by setter Blakeley Robbins’ 45 assists, 15 digs and 3 service aces. Outside hitter Maysie Douglas also had 16 kills, 15 digs and 2 aces.

Mountain Brook (45-5), coached by Mattie Gardner, clawed back in the final set from an 11-9 deficit to win the match 15-13. Hannah Parant, who has been a leader at setter and on the net all season, had a big hit for the 14th point of the match and Paige Parant had a clutch save on the final point.

Parant had 47 assists, 13 digs, 3 kills and 3 blocks in an impressive performance. Alice Garzon had 16 kills, Mae Mae Beatty totaled 15 kills and Annie Lacey chipped in kills. Ella Kate Wright also had 31 digs and 2 aces.

SARALAND 3, SPANISH FORT 2

The Spartans (40-7) of Coach Dana Mason beat the Gulf Coast rival Toros for the second time in a week winning the other Class 6A semifinal 25-19, 25-19, 18-25, 9-15, 15-13 to advance to Wednesday’s finals opposite Mountain Brook. That match will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Bill Harris Arena.

Hannah Pearce led Saraland with 26 kills, 5 blocks, and 17 digs. Setter Sophia Saxon had 40 assists and 14 digs, Charli Pearce contributed 15 kills, 15 digs, and 3 aces. Libero Bre Hughes had 13 digs and Ashlyn Hayes totaled 15.

Spanish Fort (60-10) of Coach Gretchen Boykin was led by Alexis Belarmino who had 45 assists and 13 digs, Taylor Ishmael had 19 kills and 6 blocks, Reece Varden added 11 kills, and Carlyn McAllister had 24 digs and 9 kills.