Rise Rally For 3-1 Win to Upset League-Leading Indy

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, March 25, 2026.- Facing the league-leading Indy Ignite, who entered the contest with a 15-3 record for the best start through 18 matches in league history, the Grand Rapids Rise came from behind for a four-set win Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena by set scores of 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-17.

Indy had dropped just 20 sets all season prior to the match but surrendered three straight to the Rise, who controlled play behind a balanced offense and disciplined defense. Grand Rapids held the Ignite to a .194 hitting percentage while producing a .286 mark offensively and finishing with a 10-6 edge in blocks.

The Rise offense featured a three-pronged attack led by outside hitter Carli Snyder (14 kills, .355), opposite hitter Elizabet Inneh (14 kills, .353), and 2026 MLV All-Star outside hitter Paige Briggs-Romine (12 kills, .222). Setter Camryn Turner tied her season high with 48 assists while adding seven digs, a kill, and a block.

Inneh sparked the early momentum, recording three kills among the Rise’s first four points as Grand Rapids jumped ahead 4-1. Fast starts became a theme, with the Rise building early advantages of 7-3 in the second set, 10-3 in the third, and 10-2 in the fourth.

The opening set remained tight up to 15-15 before Indy used a decisive 5-0 run to seize control. An ace from Cara Cresse, a block by Azhani Tealer, and a Rise service error sealed the frame, 25-19. Indy outside hitter Leketor Member-Meneh totaled four of her eight kills in the set.

The 1-0 deficit presented a significant challenge for Grand Rapids, which entered the night 6-26 all-time when dropping the opening set (4-8 at home).

The Rise responded immediately in the second. Multiple blocks from Snyder and aggressive short serving by Briggs-Romine disrupted Indy’s rhythm, as the Rise built an 11-5 advantage. The Ignite rallied to even the score at 21-21, and the teams remained tied at 23-23 before Inneh delivered her 10th kill of the match. An ensuing Indy attack error — confirmed after a video review showed no Rise block touch — closed the set and evened the match at one set apiece.

Playing without All-Star middle blocker Lydia Martyn, Indy also made a lineup adjustment entering the third set, rotating All-Star setter Mia Tuaniga out in favor of Ainise Havili.

In the third frame, the Rise carried a 10-3 lead to 16-10 by the second media timeout before Indy trimmed the margin to three, 17-14. Briggs-Romine answered with an off-speed kill down the line to push the lead back to five, 21-16, and forced an Ignite timeout. Snyder followed with her team-leading 13th ace of the season and later finished the set with a kill, giving Grand Rapids a 2-1 match lead. The Rise hit a match-best .469 in the third set.

The Rise momentum carried into the fourth. An ace from Inneh and another from Briggs-Romine helped Grand Rapids establish an 8-2 advantage by the first media timeout. The Rise offense stayed efficient throughout the frame, with four players recording multiple kills and hitting above .350 — three eclipsing .600. Indy’s offense stalled to a .133 hitting percentage while managing just 12 digs and two blocks defensively as Grand Rapids closed out the victory.

A match-point kill by middle blocker Alyssa Jensen secured the seventh Rise victory of the season. Jensen finished with six kills on a .385 hitting percentage and four blocks, helping Grand Rapids record at least two blocks in every set.

Jensen’s four blocks increased her team-leading total to 39 on the season. Having only played five sets and recording no blocks through the team's first seven matches, Jensen is now tied for the third-most blocks in the league, while her 0.93 blocks per set leads the MLV.

Next, the AdventHealth MLV All-Star Match on Saturday March 28 at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, at Noon.

On Friday, April 3, Grand Rapids face Dallas Pulse at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, April 4, Indy visits Omaha Supernovas at 4 p.m. EDT.