Beasts from Beast of the East 2025

<p><em><strong>Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p>   <p><em><strong>The Prep Dig Exposure Tour is coming to Michigan on December 21! This is for all 2026-2029 prospects. <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2032/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-michigan#register">Click here to register</a>, and use promo code “LSHOTPD25” to get $10 off your registration.</strong></em></p>   <p>–</p>   <p>There is simply nowhere else you wanted to be. Beast of the East is the premier event for some of Michigan's best volleyball.</p>   <p>Once again, this year's edition of the tournament did not disappoint whatsoever. We had the heavyweight brawls against some of the state's best, stars emerged on the big stage and history was made. In nearly it's 15 year run, this year's Beast of the East saw its first ever west side champion. Many from the west have come close, but never quite finished.</p>   <p>Not to be denied a second year in row, the Rockford Rams took home the title in dominating fashion. The Rams lead the charge of a VERY west side heavy tournament that saw SEVEN of the NINE west side programs on tap make the gold bracket. Of those seven, the Final Four consisted of THREE Grand Rapid Area teams including Forest Hills Northern and Hudsonville.</p>   <p>We took a look at Beast of the East's All-Tournament team. However, that simply does not scratch the surface of the kind of volleyball that was being played here. We have to do a deep dive on some of the talent you didn't hear about yet. Here's a look at the Beasts from the Beast of the East, Part 1.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='897539' first='Haley' last='Armock'] - Rockford</h2>   <p>One of the key ways to victory on Saturday for Rockford was their play in the middle. Yes, we are well aware of the dynamos on the pins, but [player_tooltip player_id='897539' first='Haley' last='Armock'] in the middle made herself more than a known presence. Her game was as multifaceted as it has been all season. From her offense to her blocking game, she was on point. She had a significantly big presence against Marian in the finals where she logged 7 blocks in the two-set sweep. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='450415' first='Leah' last='Green'] - Detroit Country Day</h2>   <p>This was going to be an uphill battle for Country Day coming into the weekend. Without one of their key pieces, some players had to step up and play some different roles. [player_tooltip player_id='450415' first='Leah' last='Green'] was one of those players and boy did she impress. The multi-sport star showed off just how athletic and versatile she truly was throughout the Beast of the East. While knocking away balls left and right at the net, Green also played some serious ball in the back row. Green's back court play gives DCD a much needed look that could throw a wrench at opponents later on in the season.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226887' first='Izzie' last='Delacher'] - Rockford</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='226887' first='Izzie' last='Delacher'] is one of those players that have really blossomed throughout her career. As the senior setter for this insane Rockford squad, Delacher is at her peak. It doesn't hurt to have the sort of weapons that she has at her disposal, but its the way in which she uses them that intrigues me most. While she plays an underrated role on this squad, do not be fooled, because she is doing a lot of great things that won Rockford the first ever BOE title for a West side squad.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/DSC08558.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-897529" style="width:209px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='850401' first='Avery' last='Geer'] Photo by Line Shot Volleyball</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='850401' first='Avery' last='Geer'] - Frankenmuth</h2>   <p>From a senior setter to a freshman setter, boy does Frankenmuth have a doozy on their hands. The Geer name is nothing foreign to this program either, but the last of three, [player_tooltip player_id='850401' first='Avery' last='Geer'] may be one heck of a book end to the line. At the setter position, Geer has just about all the intangibles you could want in the position. Head strong, vocal and she is demanding the court. As a lefty, she is very well aware of her advantage and spent no time whipping out the swing on two several times throughout the day. More times than not, she was highly effective with it.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Andersyn King - Harper Creek</h2>   <p>Let's keep on trend and talk about another freshman setter. Andersyn King had a lot of hype coming into the season, I was a fan of hers after seeing her at AAU Nationals. However, high school is a whole other beast and this tournament in particular is one too. King had no problem rising to the occasion however. I thought her feel for the game was great and she is putting her hitters in really strong scoring opportunities.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='569767' first='Quinn' last='Nelson'] - Marian</h2>   <p>We knew [player_tooltip player_id='569767' first='Quinn' last='Nelson'] was going to be a big player for Marian this fall, but to how big, you never know. Needless to say, Nelson has been somewhat of a revelation. With the loss of Isabelle Busignani to graduation, Nelson has quickly filled in that production. This weekend, in particular, Nelson upped her game against the state's toughest of competition. Whether she was in the front row or in the back court, her physicality was felt at every rotation. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226908' first='Meredith' last='Martin'] - Marian</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/DSC08786.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-897528" style="width:200px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='226908' first='Meredith' last='Martin'] Photo by Line Shot Volleyball</figcaption></figure>   <p>You really have to give it to this kind of player that can be intertwined throughout so many different positions. [player_tooltip player_id='226908' first='Meredith' last='Martin'] started the season playing six rotations as an outside hitter before falling to injury. Coming into the illusive tournament, it was unsure just where exactly we would see Martin, if at all. From start to finish, Martin was in her home position as the Mustang's libero and absolutely lit up the stage. Just in the day long of tournament play, Martin doubled her season total in digs, logging 76 on the day.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='490036' first='Emma' last='Rosenow'] - Romeo</h2>   <p>Romeo is very much a dark horse sqaud that could pop off at any given moment. One of the biggest reasons for that is [player_tooltip player_id='490036' first='Emma' last='Rosenow']. Never to leave the court, there is several good reasons. Rosenow is just so steady in all facets of the game. From her first contact in serve receive and defense to her terminating the ball, Romeo relies heavily upon Rosenow. And she delivers time and time again. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226936' first='Lexie' last='Stotenbur'] - Forest Hills Northern</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='226936' first='Lexie' last='Stotenbur'] is playing some of her best volleyball this season. She made that abundantly clear throughout this tournament. Forest Hills Northern has one of the best offenses in the state and they were hard to slow down. Stotenbur has such a feel for the game and puts her hitters in great spaces to score. Despite the early exit in the semifinals, Stotenbur and FHN are no team you want to see on the other side of the net.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/DSC08736-crop-1537x1010-1761597465.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-897535" style="width:314px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='454371' first='Riley' last='Loehfelm'] Photo by Line Shot Volleyball</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='454371' first='Riley' last='Loehfelm'] - Forest Hills Northern</h2>   <p>One of the biggest weapons for Forest Hills Northern, [player_tooltip player_id='454371' first='Riley' last='Loehfelm'] looks to have really come into her own this fall. Over the last two years, we have seem glimpses of greatness and now, it is all there and shining every step of the way. In a field of some of the best attackers in the country, let alone the state, Loehfelm is right there alongside them. She sees the court well and can bullet in some gnarly shots.</p>   <p></p>

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