Ready for Liftoff: Indy Ignite Poised to Make PVF Debut Tonight
Roster Set, Arena Sold Out, Game-Night Activities Planned for Team’s Coming-Out Party
By: Mark Robinson, Indy Ignite
FISHERS, Ind. (January 11, 2025) – The Indy Ignite are ready to blast off and make Indiana volleyball history when they launch their inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation season tonight at Fishers Event Center.
A sellout crowd of 7,500 will welcome the Ignite for their opening match in the season.
The competition against the visiting Orlando Valkyries will be broadcast locally on WRTV beginning at 7 p.m. ET, with a streamed simulcast on PVF’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@
Live match statistics and play-by-play are available for all Ignite matches by going to the PVF website (provolleyball.com), clicking on the “Schedule” tab at the top of the page and then clicking on “Stats” for the desired match. Final match box scores will also be available through the same links.
Indy is the lone PVF expansion franchise for 2025, bringing the league total to eight teams. The Ignite are also the first professional volleyball team in the state of Indiana.
Festivities to commemorate the inaugural match of the inaugural season begin well before the match starts. From 5-6 p.m. tonight, fans may enjoy the Indy Ignite Homecoming Bonfire Presented by Lilly, an event free to attend at the Forum Credit Union Plaza at Fishers District in front of Fishers Event Center (11000 Stockdale St., Fishers, IN 46037). The fan fest includes a bonfire, s’mores, hot chocolate, DJ and a heated tent to celebrate this historic night in Indiana volleyball annals.
Just prior to the opening serve, songwriter, recording artist and Indianapolis native Lenox Monroe (instagram.com/lenoxmonroe) will perform the national anthem.
Indy has assembled a potent roster to compete in this inaugural PVF season. Among those on the team are: Sydney Hilley, the 2024 Postseason Most Valuable Player when she led the Omaha Supernovas to the PVF championship in the league’s first season; Leketor Member-Meneh, who helped the Atlanta Vibe to the best 2024 regular-season record and a trip to the PVF Final Four; Indiana natives Carly Skjodt (Carmel, Ind.) and Kylie Murr (Yorktown, Ind.), who each captured state high school volleyball titles; and top draft picks Anna DeBeer and Elena Scott, both fresh off leading the University of Louisville to the NCAA women’s championship match.
The complete player roster is as follows:
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Outside Hitter: Nina Cajic, Anna DeBeer*, Isabel Martin, Leketor Member-Meneh, Carly Skjodt
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Middle Blocker: Caroline Crawford, Lydia Martyn, Blake Mohler, Chiamaka Nwokolo, Nnedi Okammor**
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Opposite Hitter: Azhani Tealer, Grace Wade
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Setter: Ainise Havili, Sydney Hilley
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Libero: Kylie Murr, Elena Scott
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(*-injured reserve; **-practice player)
The head coach of the Ignite is George Padjen, who joined the team after serving more than two decades as an assistant coach at Concordia University in Minnesota, one of the most successful collegiate programs in history. Padjen is joined by assistant coaches Brett Agne, Izzy Ashburn and John Shondell.
Purchase tickets for future Indy Ignite matches at IndyIgniteVB.com.
Indy Ignite Volleyball Editor Mark Robinson may be reached at Mark@indyignitevb.com