We had a double dose of Ickes to choose from, with Tatum and Pyper both having exceptional seasons for Class D2’s top seed. Tatum’s reign of terror continued in a quarterfinal sweep over Sandhills/Thedford, where the sophomore’s range and versatility shone. Ickes would often swing on the left and in the middle in the same rally, constantly shifting her blocking matchups. The semifinals will give us even more of that dynamic play.

This feature has plenty of sophomore flair, so let’s keep it going in Class D2. O’Neill St. Mary’s has been vying for the class’ top spot in the wildcard hierarchy this fall, and Ickes has a lot to do with it. This multi-position gem has been among Nebraska’s top scorers from the sophomore class, logging 4.6 kills per set to pace the Cardinals’ offense. She can pounce on quick tempos in front of the setter or use her range to carve angles on the outside. Hosting the D2-6 sub-district is a good start toward getting St. Mary’s back to Lincoln for the first time since 2023.

The high school season is about to bring so many rural standouts back into the picture. Ickes is one of those names to know after she lit up the scoreboard for last year’s O’Neill St. Mary’s team. The Cardinals leaned on their freshman for over 250 kills, and Ickes’s 0.256 hitting clip was near the top of Nebraska’s freshman charts. Beyond the stats, Ickes showed an uncanny ability to work off the block and make the most of out-of-system swings on the outside. St. Mary’s hopes to convert those kills into another state tournament trip.

We’re closing out strong with one of Nebraska’s leading freshman scorers from last fall’s high school season. Ickes wasted no time establishing herself in the O’Neill St. Mary’s lineup and was the team’s second-leading terminator in 2025. Her 3.4 kills per set ranked in Nebraska’s top ten among 2029s, but her ability to change up shots was perhaps the most impressive part of Ickes’ ascent. She found daylight in the middle, on the outside, and everywhere in between for the Cardinals. Opposing blockers always need to know where this high-flying attacker plans to operate.