The Indy Ignite’s perfect start to their inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) season came to a halt Jan. 24 in a four-set clash against the San Diego Mojo.
The adjustment prevented the Ignite from repeating their early success. The Mojo capitalized with extended rallies, including a pivotal eight-point tide in the third set, briefly shifting the match in Indy’s favor.
Ignite head coach George Padjen said the sport is all about momentum.
“Volleyball is such a momentum sport that sometimes it’s hard to get out of those moments,” Padjen said. “I thought we did a little better job being terminal on first balls, but once they started hitting balls again, that’s how it goes.”
San Diego’s outside hitter Jenaisya Moore stood out with a dominating performance, racking up 20 kills, three blocks and a service ace.
Teammate Kendra Dahlke added 19 kills, providing a one-two combo that proved too much for the Ignite to overcome.
Coach Padjen emphasized the importance of learning from the defeat.
“It’s a lesson. It will be good for us down the road. This league is really good, and you have to play your best, especially on the road.”
The loss drops Indy to 3-1 on the season, though they maintain the league’s best record. San Diego improved to 3-2 with the victory.
“I tip my cap, the Mojo played well tonight,” Padjen said.
The Ignite’s next challenge comes against the Vegas Thrill on Friday, Jan. 31, at 10 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the action live on the PVF YouTube channel.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on TikTok @3Noral. For more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
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