Ignite Sweep MLV Major Honors: Tuaniga MVP, Bertolacci Coach of the Year
Indy Owns the Stage at League Awards Ceremony
By Mark Robinson
FRISCO, Texas (May 8, 2026) – Much like their record-breaking 2026 season, the Indy Ignite swept the high-profile honors announced tonight at the Major League Volleyball annual awards ceremony. Setter Mia Tuaniga was named Most Valuable Player and head coach Lauren Bertolacci, league Coach of the Year.
Tuaniga joined Indy this year and fueled an offense that led the league in most offensive categories. The Ignite paced MLV in scoring (1,941 points, 17.97/set), kills (1,585, 14.68/set) and assists (1,476, 13.67/set), and set an MLV record with a 40.6% team kill percentage. Individually, Tuaniga ranked second in assists per set (11.49) and service aces (25), plus had 11 double-doubles (assists/digs). Moreover, she proved to be an inspirational and emotional leader on the court as Indy won the regular-season title with an MLV-record 23 victories.
“I truly, truly did not expect this!” Tuaniga said as she accepted the award while her teammates and coaches chanted “MVP! MVP!” “Not because I'm a warrior trying to be modest or anything, but there are so many amazing women athletes here that truly inspire me. I am super blessed; I am super thankful.
“My biggest thing is I represent my faith, my family, my culture, my team, everywhere I go,” Tuaniga added, “because I want to inspire the next generation. My brother plays overseas, so I've seen the ups and downs leaving home for nine months and it's not easy. So, I'm super blessed and grateful to play in the States and play for Major League Volleyball because it's major! Never thought I'd find a home in Indiana, but I love it!”
Bertolacci took Coach of the Year honors in her first season with the Ignite. She joined the team following seven successful seasons as head coach of Viteos NUC in Switzerland, where she led the team to six Swiss League championships (including five in a row), four Swiss Cup crowns and six Swiss Supercup titles. She has also been head coach of the Swiss women’s national team since 2021.
Bertolacci instituted the aggressive, fast-paced attack that was a hallmark of her seasons in Europe and it led to instant success with the Ignite. The result was the regular-season title and four players – Tuaniga, middle blocker Lydia Martyn, opposite hitter Azhani Tealer and libero Elena Scott – all being selected to the All-MLV First Team and earlier this week named the player of the year at their respective positions.
Bertolacci joked that she had extra time to prepare her remarks since the Ignite’s season ended prematurely with Thursday night’s loss to Omaha in the MLV Championship semifinals. That doesn’t diminish, she emphasized, what her players accomplished.