Addison poses with the blue map for winning the Class 2A state volleyball championship Wednesday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

BIRMINGHAM — The clash of volleyball titans certainly lived up to its billing on the Class 2A stage Thursday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Providence Christian proved it was worthy of the state’s No. 2 ranking, but Addison prevailed as the undisputed No. 1, clipping the Eagles in four contentious sets to claim their second straight title, second in 2A and seventh overall.

The Lady Bulldogs (57-2) eked out the first set 25-20 and narrowly dropped the second 25-23 before answering every potential Providence Christian (58-2) rally the rest of the way out. For a match that was separated by no more than five points through three sets — Addison took the third 25-20 — the Dawgs cruised in a 25-18 closer to clinch the championship.

“We never gave up,” Addison coach Pam Wilkins said. “Even after we lost Game 2, I felt like we came out with a lot of intensity and we stayed calm. We’re proud of our girls.”

The Bulldogs’ litter of terrifying attackers were on point all afternoon but came through with a particularly explosive stretch in the final set. A monster kill from Jessy Taylor jumpstarted the 5-0 run that gave Addison a relatively cozy 15-8 cushion, allowing Jessica Benton, Jessica Robinson, Holly Posey and Summer Hinton to all chime in and keep the Eagles at bay. The instant Callie Brewer’s well-placed spike touched down on Providence Christian’s side, Addison rushed the court and soaked in its second Dawg-pile in as many years.

“I think we finally realized that hey, we can actually get ahead on this team,” Posey said. “We were loud. We were quiet at some points of the game, and then when we get loud, that’s when we normally jump on teams.”

Taylor, a two-time All-State Tournament Team selection, upgraded to MVP status after unloading 20 kills, 13 digs and two aces. She was joined on the honorary squad by fellow seniors Posey, a repeat pick, and Hinton, last year’s 1A MVP.

Hinton had 10 kills, 10 digs and a block, and Posey put the perfect touch on 30 assists, nine kills, 17 digs and an ace.

Providence Christian coach Bill Oldfield had no problem admitting Taylor and Posey were a tough duo to contain. He said the latter was by far the best setter his Eagles faced this season and reserved a similarly glowing review for the MVP.

“Jessy Taylor just really was a strong hitter,” Oldfield said. “She was able to hit around our block actually pretty easily, and she found our holes. Those two were the ones we had the most trouble defending.”

Brewer aided the victorious effort with six kills, an ace and three digs, while Benton helped out with five kills and a block. Robinson added two kills, five assists, an ace and three digs. Other Addison contributors included Carly Westmoreland, an ace and nine digs; Ragen Yarbrough, six assists and five digs; and Maison Evans, five digs.

The match was the last for the Bulldogs’ seven seniors — Taylor, Posey, Hinton, Benton, Robinson, Westmoreland and Kayren Ballard — who went out with four county titles and a quartet of state championship appearances.

“It was very nice knowing that we get to go out our senior year winning,” Hinton said.

Providence Christian, which entered on a 56-match streak, was paced by Hannah Harris (18 kills) and Kristy Odom (16 kills). Emma Cary had 34 assists.

“I would’ve loved more than anything to win that game, but Addison played great,” Cary said. “We just weren’t enough.”

Wilkins wouldn’t go so far to say this state title meant more than the six others she’s accumulated since joining the program in 2002. However, she did note the latest will always be special simply because of how many seniors made it happen.

Unsurprisingly, those seniors only had kind words for their coach.

In one of the more comical postgame comments, Taylor praised Wilkins for being “patient with us, even if we’re stubborn.”

“Everyone respects her in every way possible,” Hinton said.

Added Posey: “I think she knows what’s best for us. And as a team, we respect her because she demands it.”

It’d be easy to believe Wilkins, the prep volleyball coach with the highest winning percentage in state history, cares solely about volleyball, but it’d also be a misguided assumption. To Wilkins, it takes more than blue maps and tourney trophies to build a successful program.

“We’re at a small school, and I see them in the hall every period,” she said. “It’s about their grades and how well they treat their teachers and their classmates. It’s about how good they are in the community. It’s so much more than what most people realize with us.”