Who's Coming to Beast of the East? (Pt. 6)

<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Be sure to follow @lshotvb on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for all things volleyball!</h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://prepdig.com/top-250-expos/">Join us at the Prep Dig Top 250 Expo</a>! Use code LShotVBExpo2023 for 10% off your registration fee. (APPLICABLE TO ALL EXPOS)</h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6>   One of the most hotly anticipated tournaments of the year is FINALLY here!   It's Beast of the East time. With some of the best teams from across the State of Michigan in one gym, the volleyball is going to be epic!   Last year's Beast of the East saw a showdown between Marian and Northville in the finals. While Northville took the ultimate crown, this match up was very predictive of the match up we'd see in the finals come November.   Will this year's tournament predict the future down the road in post-season? Let's take a look at who's coming to Beast of the East.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">South Lyon East</h2>   Record: 16-6   Impact Players: [player_tooltip player_id='156284' first='Gabriella' last='Babinski'], [player_tooltip player_id='110280' first='Katie' last='Berry'], and [player_tooltip player_id='442967' first='Addison' last='Stepp']   South Lyon East has been a notable dark horse all season long. They have some really nice pieces and when they're on, its dangerous. At the net, they're one of the biggest teams to see across the net. This is the first Beast of the East for the program and will surely act as a test for where SLE is for the remainder of the season.   With an array of weapons for the Cougars, none do it quite like the pair of pins, [player_tooltip player_id='156284' first='Gabriella' last='Babinski'] (Georgia Southern) and [player_tooltip player_id='110280' first='Katie' last='Berry']. The pair offer a constant state of prowess, not only on the left side, but through the pipe as well. Babinski is a heavy bopper with a lot of power with each swing she brings. Berry is one of those undersized scrappers that frustrate defenders with her crafty nature. With all this experience comes some youth as well with L [player_tooltip player_id='442967' first='Addison' last='Stepp']. While only a freshman, Stepp is player year beyond her age in the libero jersey. Stepp has over 150 digs on the season and is adjusting well to seeing some of the best hitters across the net week in and week out.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/08/BH-Quad-44.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-451906" style="aspect-ratio:1.1531531531531531;width:268px;height:auto" /></figure>   South Lyon East have some really nice wins to lean on going into this slugfest. Not only do they boast wins over Marian and Mercy, but they also are coming off of an undefeated conference season. SLE is riding this nice wave of momentum entering the weekend as a 12th seed.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stoney Creek</h2>   Record: 9-16-1   Impact Players: Julia Van Stee   This is a program in somewhat of rebuilding year. With the loss of S Julia Gojcaj to IMG, Stoney Creek has still managed to take on the big dogs with a lot of confidence.   This season Julia Van Stee has stepped up as somewhat of a leader for this squad in the middle. She's relied upon a ton for her offense but can also become quite the defender at the net.   Stoney Creeks enters the tournament as the 32nd seed and without a significant win to their repertoire. However, Stoney Creek does have a nice sweep over fellow Beast of the East team, Flushing in Power Series play.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Troy </h2>   Record: 11-11   Impact Players: [player_tooltip player_id='224603' first='Anna' last='Rich']   Much like that of Stoney Creek, Troy is a team that may be in somewhat of a rebuilding year. But never count them out and their willingness to see the best of the best.   S [player_tooltip player_id='224603' first='Anna' last='Rich'] leads this team in many way. While listed as a setter, Rich can act as an elite defender and crafty scorer when the time calls. Rich has a great sense of the court and runs a respectable offense.   Troy has some nice wins over the likes of Lake Orion, Flushing and Stoney Creek. They could very well come home with a win or two this weekend against a stacked field.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/01/DSC09375.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-306567" style="aspect-ratio:1.501466275659824;width:294px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='226910' first='Kayla' last='Ostrander'] </figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Utica Eisenhower</h2>   Record: 15-14-1   Impact Players: [player_tooltip player_id='226910' first='Kayla' last='Ostrander'], [player_tooltip player_id='454360' first='Rease' last='Buza'] and [player_tooltip player_id='454359' first='Elise' last='Bierman']   Regardless of the borderline .500 record, this is a a young team on the rise. With the bulk of its line up consisting of sophomores and freshman, this is a group putting themselves through the ringer early on. Something that'll pay off huge come a year or two's time.   Even with the said youth, there are some big player stepping up big time. Defensively, this team could rival some of the best. L [player_tooltip player_id='226910' first='Kayla' last='Ostrander'] is the state wide leader in digs and digs per set. With already over 500 digs on the year and averaging 6.6/set, Ostrander covers a lot of court, but don't think it's just her. Alongside her, freshman DS [player_tooltip player_id='454360' first='Rease' last='Buza'] has become a steady compliment to Ostrander's highlight play. Buza, at only three rotations, is picking up nearly 3 digs per set. As a whole, Ike is averaging nearly 19 digs per set.   Offensively, a nice revelation as of late has been freshman OH [player_tooltip player_id='454359' first='Elise' last='Bierman']. Bierman's time started in a limited role to begin the season, but since the beginning of September, Bierman has added some much needed depth offensively. Bierman is averaging around 2 kills per set and leads Eisenhower in hitting efficiency.   Ike comes into the weekend as the 30th seed. They recently toppled over Skyline in straight sets in recent tournament action which should be a big confident boost entering this gauntlet of a tournament.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">West Bloomfield</h2>   Record: 13-8-1   Impact Players: Felicia Fulton, [player_tooltip player_id='446003' first='Arielle' last='Newsome'] and [player_tooltip player_id='261167' first='Jordanne' last='Shannon']   West Bloomfield has become somewhat of an underrated dandy in the volleyball scene this season. This weekend however will be a tell tale sign of where WB matches up against the big dogs.   The Lakers come in with a trio of attackers that prove pretty formidable to compete with. The three currently combine for just over 8 kills per set, a pretty nice spread of offensive production. Felicia Fulton is the leader to this squad with her play all around the court. Fulton acts as both the kills leader and one of the primary defenders in the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='261167' first='Jordanne' last='Shannon'] is one of the top utility players in the state. She can swing just about anywhere on the court with a high production value. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='446003' first='Arielle' last='Newsome'] is an underrated middle having a great senior season. Newsome is coming into the weekend with 97 kills and 61 blocks.   West Bloomfield may not have had the toughest schedule to enter this weekend. However, they're coming off of a major high after winning their conference in outright fashion. I am excited to see how the Lakers fair at Beast of the East.