Ignite Aligned in MLV Eastern Conference, Will Play 26 Matches in 2027 Schedule
Indy Team President Lauds Two-Conference Format as League Continues Growth
By Mark Robinson
FISHERS, Ind. (August 19, 2026) – The Indy Ignite will play 26 matches in the 2027 Major League Volleyball season and be placed in the Eastern Conference under a two-conference alignment as the premier women’s professional volleyball league in the United States expands to 12 teams.
MLV announced today the configuration for the coming season that focuses on balanced scheduling and stronger regional rivalries as the league enters its fourth season beginning in January. The 2027 campaign will be the third for the Ignite since the franchise was founded. Indy will be part of the Eastern Conference along with teams from Atlanta, Columbus, Grand Rapids, Orlando and Washington, D.C. The Western Conference will consist of Dallas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Northern California, Omaha and Vegas.
Under the scheduling format, the Ignite will play each of the other 11 MLV teams twice – once at home in Fishers Event Center and once on the opponent’s home court – for a total of 22 matches. Indy’s four additional matches will come against Eastern Conference foes to be determined. The fifth Eastern Conference opponent that the Ignite don’t face for a third time in 2027 will be rotated into Indy’s 2028 schedule, with that rotation of the fifth conference opponent continuing annually.
The Ignite are coming off a sensational 2026 campaign in which they placed first in the regular season with a league-record 23 victories. Ignite President and General Manager Mary Kay Huse is a strong proponent of the new schedule structure.
“The two-conference format is a natural evolution for this fast-growing league that’s expanded by 50 percent from eight to 12 teams in just one year,” Huse said. “It will help create more rivalries among teams and make the battle to reach the playoffs even more challenging and exciting. MLV has already shown what a highly competitive and entertaining league it is; this next step takes it to a new level.”
The full regular-season schedule and 2027 MLV postseason format will be announced in the coming months. Indy Ignite season tickets are available at IndyIgnitevb.com.