This is the story of a loss.

That a single loss is noteworthy among 257 volleyball matches played during AHSAA’s grueling six-day super regional and Elite Eight state tournament grind is testament to the incredible accomplishment of Bayside Academy coach Ann Schilling and the numerous players she has guided.

For 21 straight years, Schilling’s teams captured AHSAA volleyball state championships – titles in Class 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A – winning 67 straight Elite Eight state championship tournament matches during the record-setting, nation-best streak. Bayside won 149 of 153 matches (losses came prior to 2006 when teams competed in pool play before elimination tournament) since falling to Geraldine in 2001 Class 2A semifinal action.

Loss was inevitable, eventually. Failure breeds success and creates desire to overcome and achieve.

All that mattered little to 16 distraught Bayside players, none of whom were born the last time the Admirals failed to win a state championship, following Mountain Brook’s 25-17, 22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-13 victory over Bayside in Class 6A semifinal action on Tuesday.

Tears flowed freely.

“I’m proud of them,” Schilling said. “They fought, they never, quit, they just battled and I can’t ever get mad when we lose like that or upset because we laid it all on the line and I told them that you know what? We all know that we serve a mighty God. And I think that everybody doesn’t know that. But these kids know that.

“I’m just proud of our program and what we’ve been able to accomplish. I mean. 21 in a row over six divisions is pretty dang incredible and it had to end one day and I’ve been saying that and not just this year.”

Mountain Brook was incredible, overpowering at times and living up to its Class 6A No. 1 ranking.

“Anne Schilling is a legendary coach,” said Mountain Brook coach Mattie Gardner. “She has done so much for the sport of volleyball and she is an incredible coach. Look what she’s done and her team played so hard and so tough and they played together and they played for her. Kudos to that team.

“In the same breath, I’m so proud of this team. They banded together against what seems like these giants and they came out on top. It’s because they played together. Everyone just did their job and that’s the difference. This team, we don’t need a superstar. We just need each girl to their job.”