Post-Season Clarity from Beast of the East 2026

<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://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591571897966">Facebook</a> for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p>   <p><strong><em><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2498/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-michigan" data-type="link" data-id="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2498/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-michigan">🚨 SIGN UP FOR THE 2026 PREP DIG EXPOSURE TOUR TODAY! If you use the code <mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">LShot26ET25OFF</mark> - You can sign up with 25% off your registration! Don't miss out and sign up today! 🔗 </a></em></strong></p>   <p><em><strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/all-events/">👋 (Code is applicable to ALL showcases across the country, find yours now<mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color"> HERE</mark>)</a></strong></em></p>   <p><em><strong><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7697783436286692638?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7621309005139035661" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7697783436286692638?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7621309005139035661">CHECK OUT WHO WON THE BIGGEST AND BEST TOURNAMENT IN MICHIGAN<mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color"> HERE!</mark></a></strong></em></p>   <p><strong><em>--</em></strong></p>   <p>The Beast of the East is one of the biggest and the best tournaments in Michigan. Not only does it bring the best of the best from all corners of the state, but it brings the best from every division as well. With so much talent and strength on tap, and at the point of the season in which it takes place, the way that the month of November will go looks much clearer than it ever did before.</p>   <p>We got see the best teams from every division on Saturday, with a large majority of teams being from the top half, Divisions 1 and 2, we got see a handful of Division 3 and 4 squads as well. And while we couldn't see the total picture of those latter two divisions, what we could see from them gave a lot more clarity than one would imagine. Going toe to toe with powerhouse programs, taking it to the 'big dogs', those teams proved a thing or two.</p>   <p>We are just two weeks away from the MHSAA Post Season and after Beast of the East, we got to see things come much more into focus. Let's break it down and chat about what each division is looking like in November based on this last weekend.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division 1</h2>   <p>In Division 1, we had just about everybody you could want on tap. Looking at the MIVCA Rankings, 7 teams out of the top 10 were on tap with an additional four teams that were sitting outside of the top ten. This meant a LOT of good volleyball and a LOT of tough match ups. Some key absences were at the time, No. 2 Mercy, No. 8 Lowell and No. 9 Clarkston.</p>   <p>Despite the few absences and with the end results in mind, one thing is quite clear now. The Division 1 road to Kellogg is TRULY anyone's game. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/DSC05714.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-1054776" style="aspect-ratio:0.7509983412176691;width:208px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Layla Ljacaj<br>Photo by Line Shot Volleyball</figcaption></figure>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Underdogs You Can't Overlook</h4>   <p>One of the biggest teams of the day was arguably Romeo. This is a team that was on the outside looking in, just bumped out of the HM list of that week's rankings. The Bulldogs came in and proved that they were not one to overlook. They would go on to upset No. 3, and the eventual tournament champs, in Byron Center in pool play. After that, they proceeded to upset No. 5 Utica Eisenhower in the Quarterfinals.</p>   <p>This is a squad that you really never know about. Line up change galore, players playing out of position but always a DEPTH of talent. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='891341' first='Layla' last='Ljajcaj'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='490033' first='Christina' last='Rosenow'] were two real standouts on the day. Ljajcaj has become a difference maker with this team in her ability to terminate across all areas of the court. Meanwhile Rosenow has become a respected middle blocker over the course of her prep career to now be playing part time at the setter position. Her ability to defend the net while running the offense is quite something to marvel.</p>   <p>Right alongside Romeo, No. 10 Forest Hills Northern was a team that REALLY turned some heads on Saturday. While they would knock out a familiar foe in Grand Haven in the opening round of bracket play, they would then be matched up with the current No. 1 team in the state, Marian. On paper, this match up was a no-brainer. However, Forest Hills Northern had much different ideas.</p>   <p>Not only would the Huskies upset the current state leader, but they would dominate the powerhouse in a surprising sweep. The pin duo of [player_tooltip player_id='454371' first='Riley' last='Loehfelm'] and [player_tooltip player_id='486269' first='Brooke' last='Johnson'] proved to be a tandem that was just too much for Marian to figure out. Loehfelm was otherworldly in her performance from both an offense and ball control perspective. Johnson was able to carry a big load in the first contact and come up huge in the tight moments on the right side.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Champions</h4>   <p>Once all was said and done, the dust settled and hailing victorious at the end was Byron Center. Only the second time in this tournament's 20+ year long history that a west side team won. Second year in a row, too! </p>   <p>The Bulldogs didn't have the easiest of roads either. Like we mentioned, Byron Center would suffer quite the upset early in the day against Romeo in pool play. This then would create quite the interesting match up going into bracket play. Right off the bat, we would see No. 3 take on No. 4 in Division 1, South Lyon East. This is a squad that has one of the most electrifying attackers in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='587564' first='Lexi' last='Coleman']. A player muscling down over 7 kills per set to a tune of .300+, on paper the match up looked to favor more in the way of Coleman and Co. </p>   <p>While some teams rely on the will of a singular vessel, the thing that makes Byron Center so dangerous is it's team force. That's exactly what the dogs did with every win going forward. After pushing the cougars to extra points in the sweep, BC would go on to take down No. 2 (D3) Roscommon, No. 10 (D1) Forest Hills Northern and then No. 1 (D2) in the Beast of the East Championships.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/DSC05429.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-1054777" style="aspect-ratio:0.7509950891703282;width:217px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke']<br>Photo By Line Shot Volleyball</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division 2</h2>   <p>Looking at the Division 2 field at Beast of the East, if anything was made certain, it is that Grand Rapids Christian may just be TOO MUCH to overcome this year. </p>   <p>After realizing that GRC would be missing their star middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='881552' first='Mya' last='McKinnon'], initial thoughts would think that this would be a rough day for the Eagles. The presence of McKinnon alone opens up so many different things for the Eagles' offense and her net defense is just so stout. However, despite her absence, Christian continued to soar up until the championship, going undefeated until meeting with crosstown rival, Byron Center.</p>   <p>All-Tournament team member, [player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke'] was on fire all day long. From being an offensive dynamo in all six rotations fo the game to being a consistent piece in the passing line, Goodyke more than proves herself as one of the top outsides in Michigan. Alongside her, the duo of [player_tooltip player_id='490372' first='Piper' last='Cebulski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='523841' first='Taylor' last='Frost'] were able to close the gap left from McKinnon's absence. </p>   <p>This team's depth, their strength and overall composure is just something you aren't seeing across the board in Division 2. While the Eagle's route is traditionally a tough one to get to Kellogg, it is one that seems a lot less dangerous due to this team's sheer prowess on the court.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Could Frankenmuth Finally Burst Through? </h4>   <p>There are two regions that are traditionally dominant in Division 2, the Grand Rapids region and the Thumb/Saginaw area region. Frankenmuth has always fell in the latter, seeing powerhouse teams such as North Branch, Detroit Country Day and/or Notre Dame Prep very early on. If there is any year to breakthrough the mold of this region, it is very much this one. Beast of the East was a clear indicator of that.</p>   <p>On the season, the Eagles are having one of their best seasons in recent memory. It all stems from the play of emerging Sophomore setter, [player_tooltip player_id='850401' first='Avery' last='Geer']. This dynamic, offensive minded show runner brings so many layers to her team. She's quickly become one of the premier players in the division due to her growth in the position, but also ability to be a scoring threat on her own. This aspect of her game allows for her squad to have so many openings in the block defense. It was tripping teams up all day.</p>   <p>For Muth, they were dealt with quite the draw in pool play, taking on top ten teams in Grand Haven (D1) and Marshall (D2). Both teams are equipped with some of the best scoring attackers in the state with MSU-bound OH [player_tooltip player_id='462086' first='Mallory' last='Woiteshek'] and OH [player_tooltip player_id='776808' first='Brynn' last='Johnson'] respectively. Both of which were managed with ease by Eagles, making the two match ups marquee wins for the program.</p>   <p>The two other notable teams in the field that'll surely shake up some things in the Division 2 race in November were Flat Rock and North Branch. Coincidentally, these two teams would see each other right off the bat in the opening rounds of pool play with North Branch sweeping the 2025 finalists.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7698355707791363358?is_from_webapp=1u0026amp;sender_device=pcu0026amp;web_id=7621309005139035661 </div></figure>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Is North Branch EVER out?</h4>   <p>Overall, this was a GREAT day for North Branch, especially when you look at the season thus far. Without a doubt, this is a program that will always find a way to be a contender year in and year out, even after losing generational players like Aubree Deshetsky. The Beast of the East was the perfect place to showcase just that. </p>   <p>The Bronco's kicked off the day with a sweep over a fellow contender in Flat Rock pretty handedly. They then would go on and take down a top five team in Division 1, Hudsonville, also pretty handedly. It wouldn't be until the opening rounds of the gold bracket that the Bronco's would lose steam and bow out to No. 2 (D3) Roscommon. Despite the loss, one has to wonder, is North Branch EVER truly out of the conversation?</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Can Flat Rock Repeat Run?</h4>   <p>For the Rams of Flat Rock, the Cinderella of the ball in 2025, can they put on the dress once more in 2 weeks? While returning the entire core of last year's group, this was an good gauge of what to expect. Per usual, [player_tooltip player_id='839917' first='Sarah' last='Giroux'] is a gun-slinger on the pins. She was the only player named to the BOE All-Tournament team to not qualify for the gold bracket. That surely says something. </p>   <p>Unlike last season, Flat Rock is projected to have quite the route ahead of them with potential match ups with two much improved Catholic League teams in Divine Child and Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard and potentially a match with Parma Western/Tecumseh in the quarters.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/DSC05590.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-1054779" style="aspect-ratio:0.750990551661079;width:224px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='769601' first='Mara' last='Williams']<br>Photo by Line Shot Volleyball</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division 3 </h2>   <p>There was trio of representatives from the third division in Roscommon, St. Mary Catholic Central, and Plymouth Christian. All three of which gave some impressive performances throughout the showcase. Let's talk about them.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Cut and Dry, it's the Year of the Bucks </h4>   <p>For starters, Roscommon's outing at the Beast of the East made things very clear that the Bucks are the absolute favorites to win it all in D3. After a heartbreaking loss in last year's tournament to the eventual champs in Kingsley, Roscommon plays with a huge chip on their shoulder. And it shows. </p>   <p>In pool play, Roscommon split action, taking down Saline in the opener and putting up a valiant fight against a top ranked team in Division 1, Utica Eisenhower. They would then go on to be the lone representatives of the division in the gold brackets, taking down top ranked in Division 2, North Branch in the opener before falling to the eventual champs, Byron Center. </p>   <p>It is so rare to see a team like Roscommon have the amount of talent spread across the court the way that they do. The Bucks were powered behind the offensive trio of [player_tooltip player_id='732306' first='Reese' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='769601' first='Mara' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='586777' first='Nemiah' last='Carper']. All three of which are going to incredible GLIAC programs in Ferris State and Northern Michigan. The three acted as a centerpiece to the team's offense and defense. Looking around the state, not many, IF any, D3 teams have what this team does.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Another Potential Clash in the Quarters </h4>   <p>For SMCC and PCA, these two teams are always one of the strongest Division 3 teams in the state and this year is proving to be no different. SMCC walked away, heads high, with a silver championship and PCA had a lot of respectable play on the day. </p>   <p>These two teams are very apparently ready for deep post season runs once more, but both look a bit different.</p>   <p>A year ago, the Kestrels bowed out in the state semifinals led behind the player of two offensive powerhouses in Olivia Beaudrie and Madeline Dettling. Both graduated and gone, the way in which SMCC wins their matches are a bit more subtle. They may not have the heavy cannon launchers, but they have a collective effort and ball control that can whither out opponents incredibly fast. </p>   <p>For PCA, they do have the offensive output capable of taking over matches in both [player_tooltip player_id='587016' first='Lillian' last='Bowman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='890647' first='Madi' last='Lund']. Both of which have grown quite well from their loss last year against the Kestrels. The two teams play very different styles of volleyball, both of which could sway heavily in the other's favor, shaping up for a very interesting rematch in the post season, barring any sort of upset.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/10/DSC05484.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1054780" style="width:279px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='849862' first='Claire' last='Ryan']<br>Photo by LINE SHOT VOLLEYBALL</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division 4</h2>   <p>And finally, we've made the move to our final division, this one will be a lot shorter because there was only one team here, Ubly. </p>   <p>Ubly is a returning final four team from 2025 and has only continued to edge there way as one of the top guns in the division. TO further make their mark, getting tossed around by the beasts of the state was quite a fitting way to toughen up before post season.</p>   <p>While I say tossed around, don't be mistaken, the Bearcats more than definitely held their own in the field, despite playing some formidable foes in No. 1 Marian and Traverse City Central. </p>   <p>The Bearcats rely heavily on their ability to out-defend and out-hustle teams. Against Marian, a team stacked full of electric attackers, Ubly's defense seemed to thrive most. No fear, no worries, that ball was UP! This kind of relentless play then offers up opportunities for MB [player_tooltip player_id='611100' first='Waverly' last='Hagen'] to stow away the points. Hagen, at 6'2, stands at a size and hits at an angle that nobody else can really match in their division. If there is any year for the Bearcats to take the crown, it is this one.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7699532622795509023?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7621309005139035661 </div></figure>

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