After her decorated NCAA career, Ally Batenhorst had a breakout debut year in pro volleyball with the PVF. Of the 44 sets she played during her debut season, Batenhorst notched 128 kills for an impressive 2.91 kills/set average. “Last home game today. Huge thanks to our amazing fans who make this experience so special,” she posted on April 27. Yet, little did the fans know it would be her last home game with the Supernovas.

The former Nebraska and USC volleyball star just dropped a bombshell, announcing the end of her pro volleyball journey, at least for now. “Thank you, Ally,” posted the official Omaha Supernovas Instagram page in its appreciation post. Now, you may be wondering why such a promising young talent like Batenhorst would suddenly quit the pro scene. Well, the outside hitter revealed exactly why, alongside Olympian Sara Hughes.

Hughes, who finished 5th in her beach volleyball Olympic debut, teamed up with Ally Batenhorst to make the announcement. “POV: We publicly announced we’re beach volleyball partners,” the now-former Supernova wrote in the closed captions of her TikTok with Sara Hughes, where the duo officially announced their beach volleyball partnership for Team USA.

Hughes, who played with Kelly Cheng in the 2024 Paris Olympics, suffered an Achilles tendon injury earlier this year. However, with Cheng now playing with Molly Shaw, Hughes hunted for the right partner before teaming up with Batenhorst. “When I first saw her, I was like, ‘Wow.’ She has such athleticism. She looks like a true leader on the court,” Sara Hughes told NBC about the 22-year-old.

While Ally Batenhorst leaving her promising pro career after one season as a rookie may have disappointed some fans, others are excited about this new journey. “Gonna have to buy me some flip-flops and sunglasses to go watch these new beach partners play!!! So excited!” wrote the former Husker’s mother, Susan Batenhorst, after the announcement. Yet, this won’t be a walk in the park.

Ally Batenhorst isn’t underestimating this challenge

Batenhorst, who celebrated her success with the Omaha Supernovas by treating herself to an Audi Q8, has beach volleyball experience. While she has only played indoor volleyball professionally, the Houston, Texas native did play both indoor and beach volleyball during her years with the Nebraska Huskers. Yet, that’s barely a warm-up for Olympic-level beach volleyball.

In fact, Ally Batenhorst admitted it won’t be an easy switch to make.“I would say it’s like a completely different sport,” Batenhorst exclusively told NBC. “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,” explained the former All-Big Ten First Team member.

Not only do the dynamics change significantly between indoor volleyball on solid ground vs. its outdoor version on sand, but Batenhorst won’t have a team this time. Sara Hughes and Batenhorst will be partners, meaning the outside hitter has to become more versatile. Then again, Hughes is confident that her new partner will make it work.

“She’s very passionate, and I thought all those would translate to the beach,” added the world champion. Thankfully, Ally Batenhorst has the time she needs to prepare. While Hughes is recovering, “really well,” she isn’t fighting fit just yet and won’t be making her competitive debut with Batenhorst before fall of 2025.