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The Indy Ignite have a familiar opponent in the Major League Volleyball semifinals Thursday at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. They'll again look to get past the Omaha Supernovas to reach Saturday's championship, though this time the roles are reversed.
The two teams met in the semifinal last season — Indy was the fourth seed and Omaha the first. Indy upset the Supernovas before losing in the championship match to the Orlando Valkyries in four sets.
“Last year, we were just grateful to be there. We barely made the playoffs, having lost seven of our last eight. We were just happy to be there, but I think this year, our mission, and our reason for going there, is to win,” outside hitter Leketor Member-Meneh said. “We are prepared to put in the work, we are prepared to do what we have to do to come up with a trophy at the end of it. When you have high expectations, there's less room for error, and our expectations are high.”
Indy is a different team this season. After finishing last year 13-15, it brought in eight new players and a new coaching staff led by Lauren Bertolacci. The Ignite finished the regular season with a record-setting 23-5 campaign after defeating the San Diego Mojo 3-1 on Sunday for the most wins in a single season. They were second in aces (119) and played the second fewest number of sets this season at 108. Indy led the league in points with 1,941, 106 more than Omaha. Indy was first in assists (1,476), kill percentage (40.6%), kills (1,585) and opponent efficiency (.207).
Omaha (14-14) was sixth in opponent efficiency at .226. The stats say Indy should win the semifinal with ease, but the Supernovas have given Bertolacci’s side the most trouble this season. Two of Indy’s losses came to Omaha. Outside hitter Anna DeBeer played with the Ignite last season. She said this year’s chase for a title “won’t be easy,” but believes this team has an advantage they didn't have in 2025: experience.
“We've already been there, so that's good knowing what it's gonna kind of be like,” DeBeer said. “We have confidence in each other and in our coaches to put us in the greatest position to win.”
The Ignite can bet on Member-Meneh and DeBeer bringing their best game. Member-Meneh was sidelined during the postseason with a leg injury. DeBeer was part of the 2022 and 2024 Louisville teams that finished runner-up in the Final Four. She’s tired of second place.
“It's been a minute since I've actually won something, because it's always like falling short, so I think that's an extra motivation too,” DeBeer said. “We've gotten so close, and it's right there, and it’s just about finding the ways to finish it.”
DeBeer said resilience will be key for the Ignite to win, but acknowledged the team is prepared. DeBeer and Member-Meneh believe the team has the depth needed to secure a championship. Member-Meneh said the Ignite have 16 players who are “ready to step up.” DeBeer praised Bertolacci for knowing when to use her players and “when we're at our best.”
Bertolacci has an intense coaching style and prefers her players to approach the game aggressively and with speed. Bertolacci went 207-37 and won six national championships with Swiss team, Viteos NUC. Bertolacci is also the coach of the Swiss women’s national volleyball team.
She often tells her Ignite players, “Winning breeds winning.” Bertolacci of all people would know.
“With coach, it’s never, ‘I hate losing.’ It’s always, ‘I want to win,’” setter Mia Tuaniga said.
Opposite hitter Azhani Tealer said Bertolacci’s mindset gives the team confidence heading into Thursday, a large part of why this year “feels different,” she said. Member-Meneh echoed Tealer’s sentiments.
“It's not her playing style that gives me hope. I think it's more so her mind, and her expectations to win,” Member-Meneh said. “I think when we have a coach who has a high standard, it makes it so much easier, because it bleeds on to every member of the team. A lot of coaches talk about it and say they have that mindset, but their actions don't back it up. Her standard comes with action.”
Rookie middle blocker Cara Cresse has contributed to the Ignite's resurgence with 84 kills and 28 blocks. Indy drafted the 6-foot-6 Fort Wayne native and Louisville alum with the fifth pick in the 2025 MLV Draft. Cresse, who rested during the final game of the season, said the team has to “hone in on simple defensive and passing techniques” Thursday. Cresse doesn’t believe the Ignite has much room for improvement and credits team culture as the reason.
“Lauren accepts who you are. She wants us to come in every day as we are with our personalities, like and just being ourselves,” Cresse said. “I think that's such a big part of why our culture is so good and everyone just gets along so well. That has led to our success, honestly.”
The Ignite players have a coach who rallies around them. Her demands may make players like Lydia Martyn want to cry at times, but they have made Indy a championship caliber team.
“This team has gelled better than any team I've ever seen in the past,” owner Jim Schumacher told IndyStar. “It's been a magical season and hopefully we can keep it going. Anything can happen in single elimination, but Lauren and her staff have figured out how to bring out the best in all our players and our team. We’re the definition of one plus one equals four.”
Joshua Heron is an enterprise and Fever reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @HeronReports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy Ignite volleyball seeks MLV playoffs championship 2026 after dominant year
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The two teams met in the semifinal last season — Indy was the fourth seed and Omaha the first. Indy upset the Supernovas before losing in the championship match to the Orlando Valkyries in four sets.
“Last year, we were just grateful to be there. We barely made the playoffs, having lost seven of our last eight. We were just happy to be there, but I think this year, our mission, and our reason for going there, is to win,” outside hitter Leketor Member-Meneh said. “We are prepared to put in the work, we are prepared to do what we have to do to come up with a trophy at the end of it. When you have high expectations, there's less room for error, and our expectations are high.”
Indy is a different team this season. After finishing last year 13-15, it brought in eight new players and a new coaching staff led by Lauren Bertolacci. The Ignite finished the regular season with a record-setting 23-5 campaign after defeating the San Diego Mojo 3-1 on Sunday for the most wins in a single season. They were second in aces (119) and played the second fewest number of sets this season at 108. Indy led the league in points with 1,941, 106 more than Omaha. Indy was first in assists (1,476), kill percentage (40.6%), kills (1,585) and opponent efficiency (.207).
Omaha (14-14) was sixth in opponent efficiency at .226. The stats say Indy should win the semifinal with ease, but the Supernovas have given Bertolacci’s side the most trouble this season. Two of Indy’s losses came to Omaha. Outside hitter Anna DeBeer played with the Ignite last season. She said this year’s chase for a title “won’t be easy,” but believes this team has an advantage they didn't have in 2025: experience.
“We've already been there, so that's good knowing what it's gonna kind of be like,” DeBeer said. “We have confidence in each other and in our coaches to put us in the greatest position to win.”
The Ignite can bet on Member-Meneh and DeBeer bringing their best game. Member-Meneh was sidelined during the postseason with a leg injury. DeBeer was part of the 2022 and 2024 Louisville teams that finished runner-up in the Final Four. She’s tired of second place.
“It's been a minute since I've actually won something, because it's always like falling short, so I think that's an extra motivation too,” DeBeer said. “We've gotten so close, and it's right there, and it’s just about finding the ways to finish it.”
DeBeer said resilience will be key for the Ignite to win, but acknowledged the team is prepared. DeBeer and Member-Meneh believe the team has the depth needed to secure a championship. Member-Meneh said the Ignite have 16 players who are “ready to step up.” DeBeer praised Bertolacci for knowing when to use her players and “when we're at our best.”
Bertolacci has an intense coaching style and prefers her players to approach the game aggressively and with speed. Bertolacci went 207-37 and won six national championships with Swiss team, Viteos NUC. Bertolacci is also the coach of the Swiss women’s national volleyball team.
She often tells her Ignite players, “Winning breeds winning.” Bertolacci of all people would know.
“With coach, it’s never, ‘I hate losing.’ It’s always, ‘I want to win,’” setter Mia Tuaniga said.
Opposite hitter Azhani Tealer said Bertolacci’s mindset gives the team confidence heading into Thursday, a large part of why this year “feels different,” she said. Member-Meneh echoed Tealer’s sentiments.
“It's not her playing style that gives me hope. I think it's more so her mind, and her expectations to win,” Member-Meneh said. “I think when we have a coach who has a high standard, it makes it so much easier, because it bleeds on to every member of the team. A lot of coaches talk about it and say they have that mindset, but their actions don't back it up. Her standard comes with action.”
Rookie middle blocker Cara Cresse has contributed to the Ignite's resurgence with 84 kills and 28 blocks. Indy drafted the 6-foot-6 Fort Wayne native and Louisville alum with the fifth pick in the 2025 MLV Draft. Cresse, who rested during the final game of the season, said the team has to “hone in on simple defensive and passing techniques” Thursday. Cresse doesn’t believe the Ignite has much room for improvement and credits team culture as the reason.
“Lauren accepts who you are. She wants us to come in every day as we are with our personalities, like and just being ourselves,” Cresse said. “I think that's such a big part of why our culture is so good and everyone just gets along so well. That has led to our success, honestly.”
The Ignite players have a coach who rallies around them. Her demands may make players like Lydia Martyn want to cry at times, but they have made Indy a championship caliber team.
“This team has gelled better than any team I've ever seen in the past,” owner Jim Schumacher told IndyStar. “It's been a magical season and hopefully we can keep it going. Anything can happen in single elimination, but Lauren and her staff have figured out how to bring out the best in all our players and our team. We’re the definition of one plus one equals four.”
Joshua Heron is an enterprise and Fever reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @HeronReports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy Ignite volleyball seeks MLV playoffs championship 2026 after dominant year
Continue reading...
