A winter storm demanded determination to reach the arena. Once inside the Fishers Event Center on Jan. 24, the Indy Ignite needed a different kind of grit to fuel their home opener.
It never fully kindled.
The undefeated Ignite, stumbling through an uncharacteristically matte performance, fell to the Omaha Supernovas in four sets, 23-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-23. The loss, their first of the young Major League Volleyball (MLV) season, dropped Indy to 3-1 and prompted stark self-criticism.
“I don’t think we showed up today,” Ignite head coach Lauren Bertolacci said. “I think we had a lack of competitiveness, a lack of grit, not so much personality in the game. I do believe it’s a big learning point for us on how we need to be aggressive.”
The night began with ceremony and promise. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, who was among the fans who braved the inclement weather, had earlier declared the day “Indy Ignite Day.”
The team initially honored the occasion. Trailing 22-21 in the first set, they rallied with back-to-back kills from opposite hitter Azhani Tealer and two more from outside hitter Anna DeBeer to steal the opener 25-23.
Tealer was dominant early, notching seven of her team-high 15 kills in the frame. At the same time, the Ignite’s attack hummed at a .410 efficiency.
It was a peak they would not revisit.
Omaha (3-1), a familiar nemesis, systematically dismantled that momentum. The Supernovas edged a tight second set, then seized complete control in the third. Breaking a 6-6 tie with a devastating 10-3 run, they cruised to a 25-16 win.
The box score tells a clear tale: Omaha finished with a .362 attack efficiency, far surpassing Indy’s .211. The Supernovas’ block walled up for 16 total stuffs, dwarfing the Ignite’s four.
“It definitely wasn’t what it has been the last few games and not really acceptable, especially on opening night in front of a crowd like that,” Tealer said after finishing with 16 points.
Facing elimination in the fourth, the Ignite flickered. They clawed back from a 15-11 hole to tie at 18 each. But they could never push ahead. At match point, Omaha’s reigning MLV Outside Hitter of the Year, Brooke Nuneviller, delivered her 18th kill of the evening to seal it at 25-23.
Nuneviller and teammate Reagan Cooper shared match-high scoring honors with 19 points apiece.
For Indy, Leketor Member-Meneh supported Tealer with 13 kills. DeBeer completed a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs. Setter Mia Tuaniga distributed 46 assists, but often found her hitters hampered by Omaha’s defense.
The postgame reflection centered on a lack of intensity, a contrast to the dedicated fans who weathered the snow.
“We kind of lacked that competitiveness,” DeBeer said. “We’ve had that in the last few games … but I think tonight we were a little hesitant. Obviously, that impacts the whole outcome if we’re not being the attacker.”
Both DeBeer and Tealer rejected elements of justification, focusing instead on an internal standard they failed to meet.
“I don’t want to give out any excuses,” Tealer added. “It’s a long season and it’s hard to bring that every day, but it’s what we signed up to do. So, we’ve got to find a way. Yeah, that wasn’t who we are tonight.”
The Ignite have a short turnaround to rediscover their identity. They continue a four-match homestand on Jan. 29, hosting the Atlanta Vibe. Fans will also have a chance to catch a game at Fishers Event Center on Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, as the Ignite host the Dallas Pulse and the Grand Rapids Rise, respectively.
For Bertolacci, the result of the 2026 home opener, while disappointing, serves as a necessary benchmark.
“The issue would be the manner in which that happened today,” Bertolacci said.
Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @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. 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.
