Indy Ignite draft 'overjoyed' Hoosier natives; 2 IU volleyball players picked

FISHERS — The Indy Ignite made sure to make it a Hoosier homecoming with their first two picks of Monday's Major League Volleyball Draft, truly making dreams come true and leaving one player "overjoyed."

The Fishers-based franchise selected Cara Cresse, of Fort Wayne, with its first-round pick, and then chose Roncalli grad Emma Halter with its second pick. The state has a strong tradition of sending volleyball players to top programs across the country, and Cresse and Halter are no exception.

Cresse, a 6-foot-6 middle blocker who played at Blackhawk Christian — "This is everything I could have dreamed of," she said — before continuing her career at Louisville, is part of the country's No. 2 blocking team (3.11 blocks per set) and was seventh individually in 2024 at 1.5. She was teammates with second-year Ignite players Anna DeBeer, a 5-11 outside hitter, and Elena Scott, a 5-9 libero, who were national runners-up in that 2024 season.

“It's going to be awesome," Cresse said of playing with her teammates. "It'll be kind of like a Louisville volleyball reunion, so I'm really excited. I'm pretty close with both of them, so I'm excited to be their teammate again.”

It's much closer to home for Halter, though. The 5-5 libero left Roncalli as the No. 1 recruit in Indiana's 2021 class. She won national championships in 2022 and 2023, when she made the Final Four All-Tournament Team. She returned home last year to support the Royals, for whom she tallied 2,984 digs and 187 aces with four sectional championships and a regional title — one of the state's all-time great careers.

“I am honestly overjoyed," Halter said. "I did not see this in my future because pro volleyball in Indiana wasn’t a thing before Indy Ignite, and it's such a dream come true."

The Ignite also had a pair of fourth-round picks in Taylor Landfair, a 6-5 outside hitter who started her career at Minnesota before transferring to Nebraska, which is unbeaten and has 23 sweeps in 28 wins. She’s averaging 2.11 kills per set and has 41 blocks and 38 digs. Landfair is a native of Plainfield, Illinois.

"It’s super close to home which I’m super thankful for, but then also I really like talking with [coach] Lauren [Bertolacci]," Landfair said. "We had great conversations. I’m just happy everything worked out the way that it did. Thank the Lord.”

Monday's final pick was used on Oklahoma's Emoni Bush, a 6-3 outside hitter from Canada. Bush started her career at Washington, where she was second team all-Big Ten, before transferring to the Sooners. She is averaging 3.11 kills per set.

“I just feel so grateful to be able to be given this opportunity to join such a great organization," Bush said.

IU volleyball players picked in MLV draft

Indiana volleyball is having its best season in 15 years, and seniors Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Avry Tatum are among the reasons why. The seniors led the Hoosiers to their first ranking since 2010 and Sunday will be selected to the NCAA tournament for the first time since then — even with a chance to host.

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Alonso-Corcelles, a 6-2 outside hitter from Madrid, Spain, was picked 11th overall by the Grand Rapids Rise. She's averaging 3.63 kills per set, which trails her 3.82 clip last season, but at her best efficiency of .278.

“I love her maturity and the way she looks at life,” Rise coach and vice president of operations Cathy George said. “She is leading a team that is breaking records at Indiana. Candela might make a mistake, but she keeps coming back. I like her fight and ability to keep her teammates calm. Indiana plays an extremely fast offense, and we have setters that can deliver that ball to her.”

Tatum, a 6-2 opposite from Solana Beach, California, was picked 27th overall to the Columbus Fury. Like her IU teammate, Tatum's 3.2 kills per set trails last season (3.38) but the efficiency is her best at a .326 rate.

“Our goal coming into the draft was try to get size and have heavy arms on the pins and Avry definitely brings that,” coach Angel Perez said. “With picking Flormarie [Heradia Colon] in the first round, Avry gives us another weapon on the other side. I have heard great things from her coach about her work ethic and she provides a big blocking presence as well.”

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy Ignite draft Emma Halter, Cara Cresse in 2025 MLV draft, results, picks