Indy Ignite clinch playoff spot for second straight season, seek MLV regular-season championship
In their second season in existence, the Indy Ignite are headed back to the playoffs, becoming the first MLV team to clinch a spot.
Indy Ignite have existed for two seasons and have yet to fail to make the playoffs. The Ignite became the first Major League Volleyball team to clinch their spot in the four-team field beginning May 7 by beating the San Diego Mojo in five sets — 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-9 — Thursday. Indy (17-4) will set its sights on winning the regular-season championship with a 1.
5-game lead on the Dallas Pulse with seven matches to play. San Diego (10-11) became the fourth team unable to overtake the Ignite by the first playoff tiebreaker — points earned in match results. But, the Mojo went on an 8-1 run in the third set to take momentum of Thursday's match until Ignite coach Lauren Bertolacci made match-changing tweaks to her lineup.
Rookie Taylor Landfair started and had five kills on 10 swings (. 500) in the set. Lydia Martyn also entered for the first time since March, returning from an ankle injury, and added two kills and a block.
The fifth set featured a one-on-one block by Martyn as Indy got off to a 4-0 start. It was keyed by setter Mia Tuaniga's top-spin serve, which put pressure on the Mojo. Indy scored six straight points to start the decisive set before San Diego could side out.