Ally Batenhorst Drops Two-Word Message for USC Best Friend Amid New Volleyball Rivalry

Ally Batenhorst is saying goodbye to California and hello to Omaha, where she’s kicking off her pro volleyball career with the Omaha Supernovas. Drafted last November as the seventh pick in the second round by the Pro Volleyball Federation squad, Ally’s already gearing up to make her mark. But here’s the kicker: her bestie from their USC Trojans days, Mia Tuaniga, was scooped up by the Atlanta Vibe as the third pick of the fourth round.

Yep, these two could soon be facing off in the upcoming PVF season. Awkward? Maybe. Emotional? Definitely. Are they ready to set aside the BFF vibes when it’s game time? Last year, Trojans fans couldn’t get enough of the Ally-and-Mia show. From posing and dancing to absolutely killing it on the court, their bond was the ultimate feel-good story of the season. But after the postseason, the dynamic duo had to part ways—literally.

Mia packed her bags for Atlanta, while Ally Batenhorst headed back to Nebraska. Now, they’re living in opposite corners of the country with pro volleyball rivalries looming. Is this the end of their Trojan-era friendship? Not so fast. Ally’s got a knack for keeping connections strong, no matter the distance.

Case in point: on January 5, Ally reshared a clip of Mia hustling hard during an Atlanta Vibe practice session. Clearly impressed, she captioned it, “My girl @miatuaniga” with an emotional smiling emoji. Atlanta Vibe, on the other hand, also celebrated Tuaniga’s entry into the regular fixture. In the original clip, the PVF program kept the caption, “Mia bringing more heat to the ATL [emoji] Glad to have you in the 404, @miatuaniga” The energy and love in that post felt absolutely essential for setting the tone. Why?

The second season of PVF is only a few days away! On January 10, Mia’s team will begin its journey. In their opening match, they will encounter a significant challenge. Mia Tuaniga’s squad will compete against Ally Batenhorst’s Omaha Supernovas at Chi Health Center this Friday. If both players secure their spots in the lineup, this will mark their direct confrontation on the volleyball court on that day. Interestingly, just a month prior, they collaborated and faced the Texas Longhorns in the second round of the NCAA tournament. 

In fact, in the entire 2024 volleyball season, Ally and Mia shared the court in all 32 games for the Trojans. Barriers? They didn’t exist for this dynamic duo. Instead, they brought out the best in each other and racked up success. Ally wrapped up her senior year with 481 kills and 257 digs, while Mia smashed records with an incredible 1,220 assists, averaging 10 per set. Let’s face it, many of those assists probably led straight to Ally’s highlight-reel moments.

This kind of magic will be missing in the days ahead. The duo is now carving their own paths in the PVF, and that seamless chemistry is left behind. But their time together? It’s the stuff of legend, the kind of story that still gives fans goosebumps—just like the moment Ally Batenhorst saw Mia Tuaniga off in California.

Ally Batenhorst’s emotional goodbye to her best mate 

As the USC Trojans wrapped up their run in the second round of last year’s NCAA volleyball championships, seniors began leaving one by one. Among them were Ally Batenhorst and Mia Tuaniga, who had to move on to their professional programs. But parting ways wasn’t just another goodbye for these two—it came with all the feels. Ally was determined to make Mia’s final exit from her California apartment unforgettable, and Mia? Well, she wanted it “extra dramatic.”

In true bestie fashion, Mia made Ally “come to the window” for a final goodbye. From there, Ally waved her off while Mia sped away on her scooter. Of course, Ally filmed the whole thing and shared it later—a perfect mix of laughter and tears for the duo’s last USC moment. Fast forward a month, and the emotional goodbyes might turn into game-time stares as the two line up on opposite sides of the net this Friday. What do you think their reactions will be? Any guesses?