Indy Ignite, Indianapolis’ new pro-volleyball team, won its season opener against the Orlando Valkyries on January 11. They played in front of a sold-out crowd, a crowd who bought tickets to see a brand-new team in a brand-new venue.
“It was a dream come true,” Katie Voelz, Director of Ticketing said. “You couldn’t tell we were a brand new team in our first season. It looked exactly the way you’d hope it would.”
Indy Ignite is the single expansion team of the Pro Volleyball Federation, the United States’ newest pro volleyball league. The league is in its sophomore year, with the other seven teams being located in San Diego, Omaha, Las Vegas, Columbus, Orlando, Grand Rapids, and Atlanta.
With both the league and Indy Ignite being so new, players and teams are still showing how they perform. “Even though it’s hard to say which matches will be the most competitive or exciting to watch, our team has been intentional in choosing themes for our home games,” Voelz said. “One that sticks out to me is our Girls and Women in Sports Night in February.”
Indy Ignite is just one piece of Indianapolis’ developing women’s sports teams. In 2024, Indiana Fever drafted #1 pick Caitlin Clark, and the phrase “Caitlin Clark Effect” was coined to describe her impact on the interest surrounding women’s sports. This upcoming winter, Indianapolis will host the WNBA All-Star Game.
“When you’re young and fall in love with a sport, you don’t hear a lot of girls say they want to be professional athletes. There’s a ceiling to how far you can dream when it comes to sports,” Voelz explained. “Caitlin Clark has been a huge part of expanding that ceiling for young girl athletes. The arrival of Indy Ignite in our city continues to do that. Volleyball is the most played youth girls’ sport in Indiana; there are so many girls who have an interest in it. Now, girls in Indiana can see women athletes performing at an elite level.”
The team is being intentional about uplifting Hoosier women and girls. Wells-Fargo has partnered with the team for this season to host a different Indiana volleyball club at each game.
“Hoosiers prove time and time again that we have an appetite for athletics in our city,” Voelz said. “I’ve heard other cities say they feel their markets are saturated with sporting events and have competing audiences, but I don’t feel that way here. After working in sports for six years, Indiana’s reaction to sports and sporting events has continuously amazed me with its grassroots support.”
Voelz encouraged people to continue supporting Indy Ignite through buying tickets and bringing your social circles to games.
“I heard that one girl told her dad at our season opener that she was having the most fun she’d ever had at a sporting event. That’s what we strive for,” Voelz gushed. “Even if you don’t know about volleyball, it’s easy to get into the game, watch, and have fun cheering on a team!”
Kylie Stine is an Indy Maven contributor and frequently covers women’s fitness and athletics in the city.
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