Ignite Fall to Rise in Front of Sellout Crowd
Indy Succumbs in Five Sets
By Mark Robinson
FISHERS, Ind. (April 12, 2025) – An enthusiastic sellout crowd did everything it could to urge the Indy Ignite on to victory tonight at Fishers Event Center, but the home team fell just short in its quest against Grand Rapids.
Trailing two sets to one, the visiting Rise rallied to capture the final two sets and the Pro Volleyball Federation triumph. The defeat dropped Indy to 12-10 this season, but the Ignite maintained fourth place in the standings and are still just a half-game behind Orlando (13-10) with six matches to play. The top four teams at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the PVF playoffs, with the champions earning a $1 million bonus.
After dropping the opening set 25-17, the Ignite battled back to take the next sets by 25-22 and 25-21 scores. Opposite hitter Azhani Tealer totaled 13 kills in the two sets. Setter Sydney Hilley put together a double-double in the second set alone with 15 assists and 11 digs. The Indy attack was masterful in the third set, with the team logging 20 kills and a stellar 30.6% kill efficiency.
Indy led early in each of the last two sets but couldn’t sustain the momentum. A four-point run nudged Grand Rapids ahead 7-3 in the third set, and the Rise slowly stretched the advantage to clinch the 25-18 set win. Indy’s only lead in the fifth set came at 1-0. The Ignite were trailing just 10-8 when the Rise ran off three straight points and never looked back, winning the match-deciding set by a 15-11 score.
“The whole game they blocked really well obviously, they passed well and it was hard to defend,” Tealer said. “We weren’t passing that well so it was really hard for us to get any kind of movement and separation in our offense. They’re a good team; we expected a battle. They’re obviously fighting for a playoff spot too, so it’s tough.”
Tealer led the Ignite in scoring with 19 kills, two blocks and a service ace, adding 14 digs for her ninth double-double of the season. Outside hitter Caitie Baird, playing her first home match since signing with the team two weeks ago, also had a double-double with 17 kills, 14 digs and a block.