Ignite Sign Middle Blocker Emma Clothier
MLV Indy Ignite

Ignite Sign Middle Blocker Emma Clothier

Published on March 31, 2026 under Major League Volleyball (MLV)
Indy Ignite News Release


FISHERS, Ind. - The Indy Ignite have signed middle blocker Emma Clothier for the remainder of the 2026 Major League Volleyball season. Clothier bolsters the team's depth at the middle position after Indy lost Blake Mohler to a season-ending injury.

Clothier, a 6-foot-2 native of Carrollton, Texas, comes to the Ignite immediately after playing for Helvia Recina Volley Macerata in Italian Serie A1, the top league in Italy. She played her final match with the team Saturday before driving to Rome the following morning and catching a flight to the U.S. to meet her new team in Indiana.

During her collegiate career, Clothier played at Florida State from 2019-22, where she was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team in 2019, to the all-conference first team in 2020 and second team in 2022. She finished her college career at SMU in 2023, when she earned American Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors.

Clothier then spent a short season in Puerto Rico before joining Dresdner SC in 2024-25, with the team winning the German Cup and finishing second in the German Bundesliga, the highest level of pro volleyball in the nation. This season, she played for the Italian league.

Ignite head coach Lauren Bertolacci is happy to welcome Clothier to the Ignite.

"Our current situation with only two healthy middles was not tenable for too long, so we got on the market to find Emma before the transfer deadline ended," Bertolacci explained. "This required quick management of everyone involved, but we are very happy to have Emma joining us in practice today. She is quick, athletic and good behind the setter, and I am sure she will have an immediate impact on our game."

Clothier is eager to play for Bertolacci. She's heard much about the Ignite coach who was already a highly regarded coach in Switzerland before joining the Ignite this season.

"I've actually had a couple teammates from overseas play for Lauren," Clothier said, "so I'm really excited to really learn and grow from her and develop as a player. I like to win, I think every point matters and just want to do everything I can to help this team get to the playoffs."

That surge to make the MLV playoffs continues Saturday when the first-place Ignite travel to Omaha, a foe that's handed Indy half its four losses this season. The final regular-season meeting between the rivals streams live at 4 p.m. ET on WTHR+ and the MLV YouTube channel.

The Ignite then heads to San Diego on Thursday, April 9 before returning home to host Atlanta at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12. Tickets and information are available at IndyIgniteVB.com.

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