Underrated Stars Shine at Beast of the East

<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><em>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!</em></h5>   <h5 class="wp-block-heading"><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/top-250-expos/">The 2024 Expo Season is here</a>! Sign up for this year's Top 250 Expo using the code <strong>LSHOTExpo2024</strong> for $$ off!</em></h5>   <p>–</p>   <p>Another Beast of the East in the books!</p>   <p>From 7 am to 9 pm, this year's Beast of the East was jam packed full of great volleyball. Upsets galore and a whole lot of huge performances, the incoming post-season has become much clearer now with some of the best of the best in Michigan all in one spot.</p>   <p>For the second time in three years, Northville has taken the crown as the Beasts of the East. They would go on to take down the likes of a feisty Rockford squad, a sneaky Utica Eisenhower crew and Hudsonville en route to the title.</p>   <p>Along the way, while the heavyweights continued to shine, new names emerged. When the best of the best come to one spot, it's all about putting your best foot forward. Some of these players may have been a bit under the radar before Beast of the East, but are no longer! Here's a look at nine underrated stars that shined brightest at this year's Beast of the East.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/DSC_0490.jpg?w=748" alt="" class="wp-image-704708" style="width:218px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Skyler Marteen</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261208' first='Skylar' last='Marteen'] & [player_tooltip player_id='537079' first='Kaylyn' last='Tuck'] - Northville</h2>   <p>At the beginning of the season, I wasn't sure if Northville would have the pieces to compete in the way they had come accustomed to. Man, was I so wrong. One large question I had was who was going to compliment the firepower of the Reck twins? Look no further than both [player_tooltip player_id='261208' first='Skylar' last='Marteen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='537079' first='Kaylyn' last='Tuck']. Both of which played pivotal roles in the Mustang's stampede to the title.</p>   <p>Marteen's growth from last year to now can really be seen in this Beast of the East performance. On the right side or the left side, she's scoring so efficiently and with a vastly growing oomph behind every swing. In the finals specifically, it seemed every time Marteen stepped onto the court, Northville sprinted ahead. </p>   <p>Tuck, traditionally a pin, has answered up some huge holes for Northville in the middle. Not only is she getting it done in her newfound role, but Tuck looks to be thriving. Naturally, Tuck is a fast-twitched athlete with a lot of pop in her hop and a fast arm. BOE looked to be Tuck's way of cementing herself as one of the premier players in the class of 2027, regardless of where you put her on the court.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226887' first='Izzie' last='Delacher'] - Rockford</h2>   <p>While a lot of this team's attention goes out to their duo of pins, this player made some serious impressions at Michigan Elite on Saturday. In her first season as the main operator of one of the top offensive teams in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='226887' first='Izzie' last='Delacher'] continues to improve with every viewing. Beast of the East proved to be another bump in level of play out of this setter. She's spreading the ball out more, she's jumping in on the defense and can add on a timely attack as well. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='490347' first='Sydney' last='Shannon'] - Forest Hills Northern</h2>   <p>This team is loaded with the fire power from every avenue of the court, but none of the magic would be able to happen without the defensive firepower of [player_tooltip player_id='490347' first='Sydney' last='Shannon']. A junior in her first season as a starting libero has been transformative to this team's success and out look. This weekend looked to have been a huge platform for Shannon to show how well she can hang with the biggest of arms. She's scrappy and relentless, and she is also one of the biggest hype women on the court. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/DSC03006.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-706527" style="width:295px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='226877' first='Olivia' last='Beaudrie']; [player_tooltip player_id='226889' first='Madeline' last='Dettling']</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226877' first='Olivia' last='Beaudrie'] - St. Mary Catholic Central</h2>   <p>5'5 in the middle? No problem! There is something to be said when you have a team full of athletes that can slip in and out of any role you give them. [player_tooltip player_id='226877' first='Olivia' last='Beaudrie'] is one of those players. A DS/libero by nature has taken on the task of filling in as one of SMCC's middles this season. A role that suits her well despite her size. She's incredibly explosive, smart and her leaping abilities make up for her lack of size. Playing six rotations, not only was Beaudrie doing great work at the net, but was proving what she is best at in the back court as well.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='172195' first='Kacee' last='Gray'] - Cass City</h2>   <p>Similar to Beaudrie, when you look across the net and see [player_tooltip player_id='172195' first='Kacee' last='Gray'], you may not be too intimidated. Particularly when you put her up against the field of hitters that graced the Beast of the East. However, Gray may have been one of the most comfortable going against the likes of such compeition. Leading the Red Hawks in scoring this weekend, Gray led her squad to the gold bracket, nearly upsetting two of the top division 1 teams in Marian and Forest Hills Northern.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='445679' first='Taylor' last='Dahms'] & [player_tooltip player_id='261135' first='Clare' last='Beazley'] - Saline</h2>   <p>While not the ideal weekend for the Hornets, it was a good weekend for their duo in the middle. Both [player_tooltip player_id='445679' first='Taylor' last='Dahms'] and [player_tooltip player_id='261135' first='Clare' last='Beazley'] are no strangers to this program and high level volleyball. This weekend however, they looked to have made themselves well within the conversation of players to look out for. </p>   <p>The two have become burgeoning threats at the net in both their blocking and attacking capabilities. Dahms, traditionally more of that sound blocker, is finding herself more in rhythm offensively. With a high IQ, and a range of shots, she's scoring by finding open court deep and around. For Beazley, she is looking really strong as she comes more into her own. Her explosive nature is converting into her more consistency in her attack and blocking.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='569774' first='London' last='Gibson'] - Marian</h2>   <p>In the absence of starting middle, [player_tooltip player_id='226945' first='Jayla' last='Zayti'], the reigns were handed over to this emerging star. While [player_tooltip player_id='569774' first='London' last='Gibson'] has seen significant minutes throughout her rookie campaign, none have been more valuable than her performance throughout this tournament. Looking comfortable and confident in the middle, Gibson's ascension over these last few months have been quite the treat. Against some of the biggest attackers in the field, Gibson was a force at the net averaging over a block per set throughout the day!</p>