FRISCO, Texas — In front of enthusiastic home fans at the Comerica Center on Saturday night, the Dallas PULSE opened their inaugural season with a competitive but ultimately disappointing 3–1 loss to the Indy Ignite.
The Pulse showed early promise in the franchise’s first official match, taking the opening set in a tight battle. Excitement rippled through the crowd as Dallas seized the first set 27–25, demonstrating early chemistry in their offensive schemes and earning a morale-boosting lead.
However, the Ignite — a seasoned team with early momentum in the 2026 Pro Volleyball Federation season — responded with poise in the next three sets. Indy’s balanced attack and defensive pressure began to tilt the momentum. Dallas fought hard, but key errors and consistent pressure from the visitors kept the Pulse from closing out further sets.
Indy’s offense was led by opposite hitter Azhani Tealer, who topped the match with 19 kills and 16 digs, showcasing her dual threat as a scorer and defensive presence. Outside hitter Leketor Member-Meneh also delivered a strong performance with a double-double of 10 kills and 10 digs, underlining the Ignite’s depth.
For Dallas, Sofia Maldonado paced the Pulse’s attack with 16 kills, while Mimi Colyer added another 12 on 36 swings, keeping the home team competitive through much of the contest. In the middle, Layne Van Buskirk anchored the defense with a match-high five blocks, offering a glimpse of the front-row presence Dallas hopes to build around.
Despite the loss, there were bright spots for the fledgling franchise. The competitive first set and individual contributions from core players suggested the Pulse may be able to grow quickly as the season progresses. Head coach and players will look to tune execution and consistency as they prepare for their next home match against the San Diego Mojo on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. CT.
