Marshall High School

The Marshall Redhawks traveled to the highly competitive Beast of the East volleyball tournament on Saturday, finishing the day with a 2-2 record against some of the state's top competition. Marshall picked up impressive wins over Macomb Dakota and Saline while falling to Frankenmuth and SMCC. Sophomore standout Brynn Johnson led the Redhawks with an outstanding all-around performance, recording 47 kills, 69 digs, and 4 service aces. Johnson continued to prove her ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball, providing offensive firepower while anchoring Marshall's backcourt defense. Grace Shubert contributed 17 kills and 4 blocks, while senior Claire Kelly added 12 kills and 39 digs. Emma Ladd provided a strong defensive presence with 32 digs. Marshall's offense was directed by setters Addie Carden and Anna Laditka, who kept the Redhawks' attack moving throughout the tournament. Carden finished with 27 assists and 23 digs, while Laditka added 29 assists and 23 digs of her own. One of the biggest highlights of the weekend came when Johnson reached a significant career milestone, recording her 1,000th career dig during Marshall's match against SMCC. After already surpassing 1,000 career kills earlier this season, Johnson has now joined the impressive 1,000 kills/1,000 digs club as just a sophomore. Known for her relentless defensive effort in middle back, Johnson consistently makes life difficult for opposing hitters. Her ability to read the game, cover the court, and keep seemingly impossible balls alive has become a major strength for the Redhawks. Reaching 1,000 career digs is a testament to her work ethic, versatility, and commitment to being a complete six-rotation player. "Beast of the East is a huge and competitive tournament. It's a loaded gym with a lot of the top teams in the state," said Marshall's coaching staff. "We played hard and had fun. It's good to see this level of competition as we're getting closer to the start of playoffs." With postseason play approaching, the Redhawks continue to challenge themselves against high-level competition, using each opportunity to sharpen their game and prepare for the road ahead.