Schilling Earns Coach of Year; Boykin Named Player
The Alabama High School Volleyball Coaches Association announced its 2026-27 Coaches of the Year, Players of the Year and All-State Team honors.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Volleyball
The AHSVCA named its 2026-27 Coaches of the Year, Players of the Year and All-State Teams, with Bayside Academy coach Ann Schilling honored as Single-A Private Coach of the Year. Spanish Fort senior Cailyn Boykin was named AHSVCA 5A Player of the Year.
Why it matters
The awards, voted on by AHSVCA member coaches and recognized by school classification, highlight coaches and players across the state's volleyball programs. Schilling's recognition comes as her career milestones reach a national level.
Schilling has recorded 1,800 career victories, ranking third nationally, and has guided Bayside Academy to 28 state championships. Twenty-two Baldwin County individuals earned All-State honors, while Cailyn Boykin has more than 4,000 career assists and 1,000 digs.
The players
Ann Schilling
Bayside Academy volleyball coach who was named Single-A Private Coach of the Year and has won 28 state championships with the program.
Cailyn Boykin
Spanish Fort senior setter named AHSVCA 5A Player of the Year, the lone senior on a team that won a third straight state title.
Alabama High School Volleyball Coaches Association
The statewide coaches' organization that votes on and announces the annual Coaches of the Year, Players of the Year and All-State Team honors.
The details
Awards were voted on by AHSVCA member coaches and recognized by school classification. Spanish Fort won a third straight state title, and multiple All-State honorees came from Orange Beach, Fairhope and Daphne.
Timeline
Cailyn Boykin earned AHSVCA Player of the Year honors in 2025 and again in 2026.
Bayside Academy won 21 consecutive state titles from 2002 through 2022.
Ann Schilling recorded her 1,800th career victory in August 2026.
The AHSVCA announced its 2026-27 awards on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Bayside Academy holds the national record with 31 state volleyball championships overall, and Schilling's 28 titles and 1,800 career wins place her third nationally in career victories. The recognition extends a program history that includes a 21-title run from 2002 through 2022.
The honors recognize specific players and coaches who set the standard for Alabama volleyball, and the All-State selections give fans a reference for the state's top talent by classification. Readers following high school volleyball can use these named honorees to track programs heading into future seasons.
The takeaway
Recognition like this rewards consistency over years, as Bayside Academy's streak and Schilling's career totals show. Following a program's honorees across seasons offers a clearer picture of how state volleyball develops.
Further reading
Explore more Alabama volleyball coverage for context on the state's programs and players.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fairhope Film Festival announces itinerary for 2025 - Gulf Coast Media.
