The Indy Ignite are the first team to clinch a spot in the 2026 Major League Volleyball postseason. The Ignite came from behind to win a five-setter at San Diego and lock up a postseason berth with a quarter of the regular season still remaining.
At 17-4, Indy is guaranteed to be among the four teams advancing to the MLV Championship for the second straight year. Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, home of the Dallas Pulse, plays host on May 7 and 9, with the winning team earning a $1 million bonus.
“We definitely want to go to Dallas, so now we are and that is important,” said Ignite head coach Lauren Bertolacci, who in her first year with the Ignite has directed the team that has led the league all season. “Like I've said a million times, anything can happen in that kind of (playoff) format, but you've got to be there to make it happen. Winning breeds winning and we want to keep winning.”
The Ignite figured a way to win at San Diego but it wasn’t without many tense moments. Set scores were 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 25-19 and 15-9 in just the third five-set match of the season for Indy. It was also the team’s first victory in four all-time visits to Viejas Arena and took nearly every available player to pull out the triumph.
And on this dramatic night, everyone who played made significant contributions. Opposite hitter Azhani Tealer led the way in scoring with 22 kills (one off her season high), hitting at a 45.8 kill percentage on 33.3 percent efficiency. Outside hitter Kayla Lund added 14 kills and set an Ignite season high with 26 digs. Setter Mia Tuaniga racked up 56 assists, 16 digs, six kills and a pair of key service aces in the fifth set. Libero Elena Scott tied her season best with 20 digs, had seven assists and made her usual assortment of magical passes and saves.
Tickets for the 2026 MLV Championship are on sale now via the TicketMaster website. Prices start at just $19 and provide access to both the semifinal and championship rounds. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com