Indy Ignite partnership brings volleyball stats to math classroom

Teacher partners with professional volleyball team to enhance math lessons by tracking sports statistics

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:49pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph depicting a classroom setting with blurred shapes and colors representing math equations, sports equipment, and engaged students, conveying a sense of playfulness and learning.A teacher's innovative partnership with a local volleyball team brings sports statistics into the math classroom, making learning more interactive and fun for students.Indianapolis Today

Crystal Lembke, a teacher at Washington Township Elementary in Valparaiso, Indiana, has partnered with the Indy Ignite volleyball team to incorporate real-life sports data into her math lessons. The initiative allows students to apply mathematical skills by analyzing player performance statistics, making learning more engaging and fun.

Why it matters

This partnership helps students connect academic concepts to real-world applications, making math more relevant and interesting. By tracking volleyball stats, students can see how math is used in sports and develop a deeper understanding of the subject.

The details

Lembke's students are expected to attend an upcoming Indy Ignite match to see their lessons in action. The program integrates math curriculum by having students track various volleyball statistics, including kills, digs, and assists. Lembke created the partnership to incorporate real-life learning into the classroom, and her students have responded enthusiastically, with many excited to work with the Indy Ignite players who have visited the classroom.

  • The partnership between Crystal Lembke and the Indy Ignite volleyball team began in the current school year.
  • Roughly 17 of Lembke's students are expected to attend an upcoming Indy Ignite match.

The players

Crystal Lembke

A teacher at Washington Township Elementary in Valparaiso, Indiana, who has partnered with the Indy Ignite volleyball team to incorporate sports data into her math lessons.

Indy Ignite

A professional volleyball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, that has partnered with Crystal Lembke to provide real-life sports data for her math lessons.

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What they’re saying

“They absolutely love it. It's so fun in the mornings. They'll come in, they pop open their computer, they're looking at stats. And they just, it's really cool to see it translate into the chapters when we get into the math textbook.”

— Crystal Lembke, Teacher

“We had Hanna and Martin came and it was actually really cool because what lesson I do, they did it. So it was really cool, because right there I'm saying, hey, Lydia, you're here. Why don't you just do this lesson? And she just popped in and did it.”

— Crystal Lembke, Teacher

“It's cool when, even if they do lose a match, they see a win out of it and see how can we progress and get better.”

— Crystal Lembke, Teacher

What’s next

The students are expected to attend an upcoming Indy Ignite match to see their lessons in action and continue applying their math skills to real-world sports data.

The takeaway

This partnership between a teacher and a professional sports team demonstrates how incorporating real-life applications can make math more engaging and relevant for students, helping them develop a deeper understanding of the subject.