With PVF Playoffs on the Line, Sydney Hilley Is Built for the Moment
Sydney Hilley’s fingerprints are all over the short history of the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF). She won the league’s inaugural championship with the Omaha Supernovas in 2024 and was named playoff MVP.
This year, she’s in a new city but still has the chance to add to her legacy with another PVF postseason run. With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, her Indy Ignite squad needs to hold fast to the fourth and final available playoff spot — and with Hilley running the offense, the team’s potential is high.
Last season’s PVF title came after a standout campaign in which Hilley led the Supernovas to a 16-8 overall record, tallying 592 assists, 189 digs, and 26 kills. This year, she already has 1,129 assists and is helming an Indy offense that collectively leads the league in assists, kills, points, and kill percentage.
Hilley is no stranger to the pressures of a late-season schedule, and it’s no coincidence she’s thriving in another playoff push. She’s put in the work to get here, and the product she’s putting on the court this season is years in the making.
A five-year starter at Wisconsin, Hilley was the engine behind one of the NCAA’s most consistent contenders from 2017 to 2021. She stacked up a collection of individual accolades, including three-time Big Ten Setter of the Year, four-time All-Big Ten honoree, and a two-time AVCA First-Team All-American. Her 6,138 career assists remain the most in program history, and she finished in the top five in school history in both assists per set and double-doubles.
In 2021, she started in all 34 matches and 122 sets, leading the Badgers to a national championship win over Nebraska to cap her collegiate career.
Even before her time at Wisconsin, Hilley had already represented the United States at the youth and junior national team levels. After graduation, she debuted with the U.S. women’s national team at the 2023 Pan American Cup, where she helped secure a bronze medal.
Following stints playing professionally in Istanbul and Puerto Rico, Hilley joined Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball in 2023, finishing eighth in the standings. She returned in 2024 and finished 14th overall — second among setters — before jumping into the PVF’s inaugural season with the Supernovas.
Now, the experience gained in that first PVF run is paying dividends. She’s the captain of an offense that has established itself as one of the most efficient and dynamic units in the league. And her contributions go beyond just setting — Hilley leads Indy in service aces (14), ranks second on the team in digs (264), and is fourth in blocks (33).
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One of Hilley’s go-to weapons this season has been Leketor Member-Meneh, the 2024 AU Pro Volleyball fifth-place finisher. The veteran outside hitter ranks second on the Ignite in kills (184) and has been a reliable scoring threat all season.
With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, holding on to that fourth playoff spot is essential. Indy (12-12) is currently one win ahead of fifth-place Grand Rapids Rise (11-14) and has four regular-season matches left to seal the deal.
Despite the Ignite’s recent Week 15 slump, Hilley’s stats remain consistent, with the veteran setter recording 40 assists, 11 digs, four kills, and one block versus the Grand Rapids Rise on Saturday.
In a league as competitive as the PVF, the postseason results could come down to experience and composure in the final stretch. For Indy, that means leaning on the steady hands of Hilley. Her championship pedigree, leadership, and ability to elevate those around her could make the difference in clinging to a playoff berth and making another title run.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
