Ally Batenhorst recently made the transition from indoor volleyball to chase the 2028 Olympics on the beach alongside Sara Hughes. The first look at her outdoor training shows a lot of progress already.
However, she is still getting used to the new uniform.
Hughes made the surprising decision to pick Batenhorst as her new beach volleyball partner after a shocking upset loss to Switzerland as a member of Team USA in Paris last summer and a torn achilles. These next four years will now focus on Los Angeles.
Who is Ally Batenhorst?
The 6-foot-5 outside hitter began her college volleyball career at Nebraska. Batenhorst actually played both indoor and outdoor for the Huskers with an all-time record of 39-28 on the sand.
Although she does not lack experience on the beach, it has been a few years. Batenhorst committed to play only indoor volleyball at USC as a graduate transfer in 2024 and later signed a contract with the Pro Volleyball Federation.
Her professional indoor career did not last long!
Ally Batenhorst bailed on the Omaha Supernovas to join Sara Hughes on the sand at the end of July. It was a surprising pick for the Paris Olympian.
They are only a few weeks into their new beach partnership but things seem to be going well thus far!
The transition from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball includes the uniform!
Hughes posted a snippet from their most recent practice in Hermosa Beach and it looks like it is starting to come together. Batenhorst is going to need to set a lot more often that she has in the last two years.
They are at the very least having a lot of fun!
Ally Batenhorst will have no problem with her transition from indoor back to outdoor. There is no way to know whether she will be successful with Hughes but relearning the sport on a different surface is like riding a bike. She’ll get the hang of it after a few weeks!
The same cannot be said for the uniform.
Batenhorst did not wear a bikini while playing outdoor volleyball at Nebraska, just leggings. Nor did she wear a bikini at any point during her indoor career. That is very soon going to change. It is an adjustment!
Even though Batenhorst was initially shellshocked by the change of uniform, she wants to be very clear that she is not required to wear a bikini. People were outraged by the lack of coverage (check the comment section of the above video) but it is her own personal choice.
Female beach volleyball players are presented with a few different options for their uniform. They can wear a one-piece or two-piece bathing suit, shorts and/or leggings with sleeved or sleeveless tops, or a full body suit in cold weather.
Most women opt for the two-piece uniform and Ally Batenhorst is one of those women— even if it is an adjustment. She is actively choosing to wear a bikini.