Indy Ignite hosts youth volleyball night INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indy Ignite is hosting a special Youth Volleyball Night during their match against the Columbus Fury on Thursday night. It comes as the Nike Mideast Girls National Qualifier returns to the Indiana Convention Center on Friday for a weekend full of volleyball. At stake — a bid to USA Volleyball Nationals in the 16-18-year-old divisions. Between the players, parents, coaches and officials, 35,000 people are expected to be downtown. Tournament Director Scott McQueen says it will be a long but rewarding weekend for the players. “It’s just a great opportunity for people to play, have great competition, see if they have a chance to take another step forward,” McQueen said. The MEQ starts on Friday. About 900 teams from 300 or so clubs across the country will be traveling to the Circle City to compete. It’s exactly why the Indy Ignite wanted to team up with organizers for a night to recognize their efforts. Indy Ignite Community Relations Director Randi Raff says the team hopes to show these young fans that they can have a future in the sport beyond college. “Our whole mission…is building this ecosystem where young players have role models,” Raff said. “I’ve heard our players talk about it. They love when youth and club players come out to take in our matches. “ To commemorate the special night, the team is getting in on a social media trend known as “clipping.” The fad involves writing positive messages on clothespins. Competitors then secretly clip them onto another player’s or coach’s bags. At Thursday’s match, Indy Ignite will be handing out clothespins spray-painted with the team’s colors and words of encouragement for this weekend. Carly Klanac, the Ignite’s VP of marketing and game day experience, is a former club volleyball player herself and has played in countless tournaments similar to the MEQ. She says it’s exciting to see the sport grow and a new culture develop around it. “It’s a pillar of what we do,” Klanac said. “It’s just fantastic to be able to get a fantastic tournament in our home city the night before a game. We’ve been so excited to have these girls, bring them to our stadium and just give an experience of a lifetime.” Teams competing this weekend received discounted tickets to Thursday’s match. All youth players, regardless if they’re playing in the MEQ will receive 10% off merchandise if they wear their club’s jersey to the match. McQueen says the partnership with Indiana’s only professional volleyball team shows where the sport is headed. “It gives the girls an opportunity to see what’s next for them,” McQueen said. “Professional leagues have always been overseas. Once college careers are over, a lot of times they don’t realize what opportunities are there. Now that we have some professional volleyball in the States, it gives them something to look forward to.” The Indy Ingite faces off against the Columbus Fury on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Fishers Event Center. ...read more read less