Freshman Defensive Specialists Making Moves in Iowa

<p>The freshman defensive specialists across Iowa showed they are not waiting for their turn to shine. This group brought court maturity well beyond their age, with advanced reading skills, clean platform work, and the confidence to handle first-ball contact in high-pressure settings. Here is a closer look at the players who stood out and why their foundations project so well for the future.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='855017' first='Alivia' last='Ortmann']</h2>   <p>Ortmann is a 5'5" defensive specialist from Dallas Center-Grimes. Ortmann plays with a calm, steady presence that immediately stabilizes a back row. Her platform angles are consistent, and she excels at holding shape through contact. She reads float serves early and adjusts feet quickly, making her one of the most reliable serve/receive options in the group.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='883047' first='Hayden' last='Van Auken']</h2>   <p>Van Auken is a 5'3" defensive specialist from Waverly-Shell Rock. Van Auken brings speed and a fearless pursuit of balls outside her zone. She has quick reactions and is especially strong in scramble plays. Her low defensive posture gives her an advantage on hard-driven balls, and she showed impressive confidence for a smaller defender.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='765950' first='Avery' last='Humphrey']</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-08-at-5.56.02-PM.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-790074" style="width:174px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Instagram~[player_tooltip player_id='765950' first='Avery' last='Humphrey']</figcaption></figure>   <p>Humphrey is a 5'6" DS/L from Ankeny Centennial High School. Humphrey has one of the cleanest platforms among the freshman class. Her touch is disciplined and quiet, and she rarely has an overpass. She showed strong communication and took charge of seams, a trait that sets her up well for libero responsibilities as she progresses through high school.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='782157' first='Maggie' last='Jensen']</h2>   <p>Jensen is a 5'4" defensive specialist from Williamsburg High School. Jensen stands out for her foot speed and ability to arrive early, allowing her to play balanced on almost every contact. She excels at digging tips and off-speed shots because she reads hitters well and stays patient before committing.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='903659' first='Hallie' last='Grimm']</h2>   <p>Grimm is a 5'2" defensive specialist from Valley Southwoods High School. Grimm plays bigger than her size due to her anticipation and exceptional body control. Her ability to keep balls playable even when forced into awkward positions makes her a valuable transition defender. She adds energy and covers hitters better than many older players.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='880642' first='Sidney' last='Bryan']</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/137A1822-2.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-764911" style="width:171px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2025 Iowa PowerPlex 14U [player_tooltip player_id='880642' first='Sidney' last='Bryan']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure>   <p>Bryan is a 5'6" DS/L from Dowling Catholic High School. Bryan brings a physical, athletic style of defense. She gets low quickly, reads shoulders well, and is confident taking the toughest serve receive rotations. Her ability to dig power consistently separated her from many in the class.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='893645' first='Mallory' last='Ickowitz']</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/137A4857.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-893644" style="width:168px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Des Moines Roosevelt 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='893645' first='Mallory' last='Ickowitz']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Dig) </figcaption></figure>   <p>Ickowitz is a 5'5" DS/L from Des Moines Roosevelt High School. Ickowitz has strong ball control and a steady platform, but what sets her apart is her communication. She is constantly managing seam assignments and ensuring her teammates adjust to server tendencies. She offers both leadership and consistency in the backcourt.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='880709' first='Bianca' last='Sarcone']</h2>   <p>Sarcone is a 5'5" defensive specialist from Dowling Catholic High School. Sarcone brings explosive first-step quickness and has a knack for tracking tough float serves. She defends well in space and consistently turns difficult digs into controlled transitions. Her athleticism and willingness to extend plays make her a high-upside prospect.</p>

The freshman defensive specialists across Iowa showed they are not waiting for their turn to shine. This group brought court maturity well beyond their age, with advanced reading skills, clean platform work, and the confidence to handle first-ball contact in high-pressure settings. Here is a closer look at the players who stood out and why their foundations project so well for the future.