Top 16 Players to Watch at Beast of the East
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The event we have all been waiting for! We will finally be seeing 32 of the best teams in the state of Michigan, across all divisions, to one spot for an epic weekend of volleyball! Hosted by Michigan Elite Volleyball…
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Continue ReadingThe event we have all been waiting for! We will finally be seeing 32 of the best teams in the state of Michigan, across all divisions, to one spot for an epic weekend of volleyball!
Hosted by Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy at the UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac, Michigan, only the best of the best will be on tap for this event. While we have gone through each of the 32 teams and given a preview to each team and what they’ll bring to the table, it’s time to spotlight some more.
Here are some of the top 16 players to watch out for at Beast of the East this weekend.
Kalliann Cook Kalliann Cook 5'5" | DS/L Birch Run | 2023 State MI – 5’4 L – Birch Run (Pool F)
One of the top liberos coming into the tournament, Kalliann Cook Kalliann Cook 5'5" | DS/L Birch Run | 2023 State MI is as tough as nails! No matter where you put the ball, she’ll be there. Cook is a long standing standout for Birch Run and a recent Austin Peay commit, she is so much fun to watch. If you haven’t seen her live yet, this is the perfect place to watch. Against the biggest and most physical of attackers, Cook will be in all of her glory come Saturday.
Olivia Gardner Olivia Gardner 6'2" | MB Dakota | 2023 State MI – 6’1 MB – Dakota (Pool H)
A player that may very well go down in the Dakota history books as one of the best to play, Olivia Gardner Olivia Gardner 6'2" | MB Dakota | 2023 State MI will continue to write her history this weekend. Another long-time standout in this program, Gardner has established herself as the go-to weapon for this Cougar offense. Traditionally a middle, Gardner’s repertoire has grown vastly during her time, and you could very easily find her swinging anywhere along the net and from the back court.
Elana Erickson Elana Erickson 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #79 Nation MI – 5’11 OH – Forest Hills Northern (Pool C)
Forest Hills Northern has one of the most potent 1-2 punches in the entire state. With Kennedy Louisell Kennedy Louisell 6'0" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2023 State #140 Nation MI (UNCG) and Elana Erickson Elana Erickson 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #79 Nation MI as constant threats, there is no getting around the left side. Erickson is a huge piece to this team. While she is a very skilled attacker with some great beach influence to her play, Erickson is an outstanding defender and receiver. She’s a player who can easily rival the best liberos in the state with her ball control and defense.
Remi Madison Remi Madison 5'9" | OH Grand Blanc | 2023 State MI – 5’11 OH – Grand Blanc (Pool C)
You may not know it when she steps on the court, but you’ll know it when she is in flight. Remi Madison Remi Madison 5'9" | OH Grand Blanc | 2023 State MI is a terror. You do not want to on the other side of the net as Madison. She has the ability to take over matches. Between her hops, her vicious arm swing and her court awareness, Madison has already been a reason for a few upsets this season and will look to continue her ways this weekend.
Zoey Dood Zoey Dood 6'2" | S Grandville | 2024 State #131 Nation MI – 6’2 S – Grandville (Pool D)
She’s not touted as the top recruit in the 2024 class for nothing. Zoey Dood Zoey Dood 6'2" | S Grandville | 2024 State #131 Nation MI is the complete package and is the heart beat to her Grandville team. As tall as she is, she is just as physical despite what her position may have you think. Dood can run a well-oiled machine and with her physicality can be an offensive dynamo on two and a shut down blocker.
Hope Schriber – 6’1 MB – Imlay City (Pool D)
Imlay City is on the rise and it has much of that to thank to the play of Hope Schriber. A towering presence in the middle with a big swing, Schriber can bring some serious heat when she plays. A player with great versatility, she can score anywhere along the net, finding her bread and butter on the slide. This will be the Spartans first Beast of the East this weekend and will rely heavily upon this Madonna commit.
Cece Pelak Cece Pelak 5'10" | RS Mattawan | 2023 State MI – 5’10 OPP – Mattawan (Pool G)
It’s not a usual thing when you see your right side attacker as such a go-to as Cece Pelak Cece Pelak 5'10" | RS Mattawan | 2023 State MI is for Mattawan. Slightly undersized, Pelak not only can jump out of the gym, but she sees the block so well on the right pin. Pelak is a terminator to say the least and can be a viable weapon in the back row as well.
Carley Piercefield Carley Piercefield 5'4" | DS/L Lakewood | 2024 State #90 Nation MI – 5’4 L – Lakewood (Pool D)
This field of athletes include some of the best defenders in the state and arguably in the nation. Carley Piercefield Carley Piercefield 5'4" | DS/L Lakewood | 2024 State #90 Nation MI is one of those defenders you could put up there in the national stage. Not only does Piercefield play with such great defensive reads, but she is lights out in her reception. Give her the entire back court to herself and she’ll pass dimes. No problem.
Isabelle Busignani Isabelle Busignani 6'1" | OH Marian | 2025 State #73 Nation MI – 6’1 OH – Marian (Pool A)
One of the hottest up-and-comers in the game, this whip of an arm is not one to cross paths with. Isabelle Busignani Isabelle Busignani 6'1" | OH Marian | 2025 State #73 Nation MI has quickly established herself as one of the top attackers across all division. Not only has her prowess established her at the top of every scouting report, Busignani keeps Marian as a real threat for another Beast of the East title this weekend.
Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #4 Nation MI – 6’2 S – Mercy (Pool F)
Another player from the sophomore class, Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #4 Nation MI is widely considered one of the best in the country for her age group. A setter with a real feel for the entire game, she is the complete package. With a great, deceptive touch, Flynn runs a real fluid offense and can flip into an attacker on a dime.
Clara Gyomory Clara Gyomory 5'10" | RS North Branch | 2024 State MI – 5’11 OPP – North Branch (Pool E)
North Branch may very well be one of the most stacked rosters coming into the tournament and across the entire state. Any hitter is a viable weapon and this season is seeing the emergence of their opposite hitter, Clara Gyomory Clara Gyomory 5'10" | RS North Branch | 2024 State MI . In this very diverse offense, Gyomory has been able to establish herself as the go-to option and leads this team in kills while managing to hit a .350 clip.
Ella Craggs Ella Craggs 5'9" | S Northville | 2025 State #127 Nation MI – 5’9 S – Northville (Pool B)
The transfer of Ella Craggs Ella Craggs 5'9" | S Northville | 2025 State #127 Nation MI has been a total game-changer for this Northville program. While they have Miss Volleyball nominee, Abigail Reck Abigail Reck 6'2" | MB Northville | 2023 State #74 Nation MI growing in her role as a six rotation pin, a lot of her success could be thanked by the consistency of Craggs’ game. One of the smoothest setters you’ll find in the field, Craggs has a great vision for the game and who to feed at the best times.
Allison Pilat Allison Pilat 6'2" | OH Plymouth Christian | 2024 State MI – 6’2 OH/MB – Plymouth Christian (Pool G)
If anyone can lead a pack of small fish in this big pond, it’ll be Allison Pilat Allison Pilat 6'2" | OH Plymouth Christian | 2024 State MI . Plymouth Christian is coming into this tournament after a runner-up finish at the D3/4 Showdown and looking to get in tip-top shape before the post-season begins in a few weeks. Pilat, in her first season on the left side, has been lighting the court up all season long and is a huge reason for PCA’s 2022 success.
Grace Wenaas – 6’0 MB – Notre Dame Prep (Pool B)
If you haven’t heard of this name before, it’ll do you good to get familiar now. Wenaas is knocking down about 4.5 kills per set to a tune of .500 on the season. The speed in which she plays with and her vision for the court, Wenaas is a total force to be reckoned with. Look for her to get a lot of balls this weekend.
Marie Laurio Marie Laurio 5'10" | OH Saline | 2025 State #147 Nation MI – 5’11 OH – Saline (Pool C)
One of the biggest tune ups from her freshman season a year ago, Marie Laurio Marie Laurio 5'10" | OH Saline | 2025 State #147 Nation MI is beginning to create quite a name for herself. As the No. 7 Saline’s leading scorer and one of their top passers, Laurio has established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the court. An athlete that can jump out of the gym and crank out some impressive shots, Laurio will be huge for Saline in this weekend’s contest.
Jessica Costlow Jessica Costlow 5'11" | OH SMCC | 2025 State #142 Nation MI – 5’11 OH – St. Mary’s Catholic Central (Pool E)
The Kestrel’s leading scorer on the season, Jessica Costlow Jessica Costlow 5'11" | OH SMCC | 2025 State #142 Nation MI has been playing like a seasoned veteran in only her sophomore campaign with SMCC. A high-flier with some elite vision for the court, Costlow knows just where to put the ball at the right times. While a dynamic scoring machine, Costlow has some pretty tight ball control as well which proves to be big for SMCC versus the biggest of opponents.
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