World champ selects Ally Batenhorst: USC indoor, beach volleyball alums to take on LA 2028

Reigning beach volleyball world champion Sara Hughes is on a quest for an Olympic medal. Hughes made her first Olympic appearance last summer in Paris, finishing tied for fifth with partner Kelly Cheng, who played with Hughes at USC from 2014-2017.

But Cheng and Hughes are going their separate ways ahead of the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Cheng started playing with AVP athlete Molly Shaw in March and Hughes was on the hunt for a new partner after suffering a severe Achilles tendon injury in January.

She announced her choice — a surprising one — Monday: professional indoor volleyball player Ally Batenhorst.

It’s an interesting move for the beach star, who won the world title with Cheng in 2023 (there was no competition last year). 

Batenhorst plays for the Omaha Supernovas in the Pro Volleyball Federation and graduated from USC last season after spending three years at Nebraska. The outside hitter led the No. 6 seeded Trojans to the second round of last year’s NCAA tournament, falling in three sets to No. 3 Texas (26-24, 25-20, 25-22). 

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Though her professional experience is limited to indoor courts, Batenhorst played beach games with the Cornhuskers, recording a 39-28 career sand record. It may technically be the same sport, but Batenhorst understands the nuances between indoor and sand play.

“I would say it's like a completely different sport,” Batenhorst told NBC LA. “You have to learn little things like wind and you're outside and it's only two of you, so little things like that are an adjustment for sure. But at the end of the day, it’s volleyball.”

For Hughes, it’s not about Batenhorst’s beach experience or professional lack thereof.

“When I first saw her, I was like, ‘wow,’” Hughes said to NBC LA. “She has such athleticism. She looks like a true leader on the court. She's very passionate, and I thought all those would translate to the beach.”