Sara Hughes, world champion of Reaging Beach Bolleyball, searched far more widely for her new partner. She didn’t even choose a professional beach volleyball player because she was so spacious.
In her quest to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Hughes worked with professional indoor volleyball player Ally Batenhorst, the Omaha Supernova professional indoor volleyball player of the Pro Volleyball Federation, to reveal only NBC.
“When I first saw her, I was like, ‘Amazing’,” Hughes said. “She has that kind of athleticism. She looks like a true leader on the court. She is very passionate and I thought all of them would be translated to the beach.”
Batenhorst, 22, only played indoor volleyball professionally, but has experience playing beach volleyball in college. Before moving to USC, he played only indoor volleyball and was an honorable mention of the 2024 AVCA national, but he played both indoor and beach volleyball for Nebraska, finishing with a 39-28 career record in the sand.
“I think it’s like a completely different sport,” Batenhorst said. “You have to learn little things like the wind, and you’re just two of you outside, so those little things are certainly adjustments. But at the end of the day it’s volleyball.”
Hughes was looking for a new partner after suffering an Achilles tendon injury earlier this year. Her partner is currently playing with Molly Show when she finished fifth at Kelly Chen, the 2024 Parisiolmín.
Hughes practices back on the sand. She says her recovery is “really well” and hopes to make a competitive debut with Batenhorst this fall.
“Things are moving quickly,” Hughes said.
Batenhorst transition from indoor volleyball from beach volleyball
There is a precedent for bringing indoor volleyball players into the sand. No one knows this better than Tom McCarthy, the agent of Hughes, president and CEO of Progressive Sports Management.
McCarthy was an agent for Misty May Triner when he recruited Kelly Walsh Jennings for beach volleyball from the US indoor team. The duo have won three consecutive Olympic gold medals.
We want to be the hardest working team and become the hardest working team.
Sarah Hughes
“The game wasn’t looking at my body [like the 6-foot-3 Walsh Jennings] McCarthy said, “We built it so much and revolutionized the sport. It’s very different from back in 2000, but it’s actually the same on a larger scale because the game is moving forward. The athletes are so big, stronger and faster, so we had to adapt to it.”
Batenhorst certainly has a height. The Houston native is 6 feet 5, just as tall as 2020 Olympic champion Alix Clinican. Chen, Hughes’ former partner, is listed at 6 feet 2.
“Beach games, everyone is a little taller,” Hughes said. “You can also get a tall blocker out there to keep the game at the highest level. She’s a really good blocker and I love defending behind her. It’s really fun.”
At 30, Hughes was also fascinated by Batenhorst’s work ethic.
“We want to be the hardest working team,” Hughes said. “And we will become the hardest working team.”
Immediate chemistry between Batenhorst and Hughes
Hughes sent a direct Instagram message to Batenhorst to begin a partnership discussion. They connected about their similarities. Both participated in USC. Here, Batenhorst was in 14th place for the indoor team, while Hughes was in 14th place on the sand. Both are passionate about faith, education and music.
“Conversion was very easy right away,” Batenhorst said. “It’s hard to find that right away within a beach volleyball partnership.”
McCarthy added: [Hughes] Like when she was around Batenhorst.
Outside the sand, the new duo is working through key team dynamics.
“Maybe our cute little fans will understand our nickname,” Hughes said. “We will establish a handshake too.”
Batenhorst and Hughes are looking forward to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Beach volleyball is played under 20 miles of Meter Day from Hughes’ high school and under 25 miles of his alma mater USC.
“I hope our competitors know we want to be on top of the podium,” Hughes said.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will host more events and award more medals than the previous Olympics.
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