Reigning world champion Sara Hughes is poised for her return to beach volleyball after a prolonged injury layoff, announcing a new partnership with Ally Batenhorst. The 30-year-old American defender and Batenhorst, a professional indoor volleyball player transitioning to the sand, revealed their collaboration to NBC, with their sights set on qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Prior to her injury, Hughes achieved significant success with former partner Kelly Cheng, notably securing the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship title in Mexico. Their impressive run also saw them hold the number two spot in the women’s FIVB World Ranking for 21 consecutive weeks. As a formidable pair, Hughes and Cheng earned five gold, one silver, and one bronze medal on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, including winning the 2022 Tour Finals. Their partnership culminated in a quarterfinal appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, followed by a few appearances on the USA’s AVP Tour to conclude the 2024 season.
Hughes` 2025 season was cut short in January when she suffered an Achilles tendon injury requiring surgery. Following this, her former partner Cheng began playing with Molly Shaw. Hughes has been actively rehabilitating and reports excellent progress in her recovery, with a hopeful competitive debut alongside Batenhorst slated for this fall on the Beach Pro Tour.
Ally Batenhorst, 22, enters the beach volleyball scene with a strong background in indoor volleyball. A standout player for the Omaha Supernovas in the USA’s Pro Volleyball Federation, she previously showcased her versatility by competing in both indoor and beach volleyball during her collegiate career at the University of Nebraska, where she amassed a 39-28 record on the sand.
“It’s like a completely different sport. You have to adapt to nuances like wind, being outdoors, and the fact that it’s just two of you. Those small details require adjustment, but ultimately, it’s still volleyball,” Batenhorst told NBC. “Our communication was incredibly easy from the start. That’s something tough to establish so quickly in a beach volleyball pairing.”
Hughes expressed her confidence in the 1.96m-tall Batenhorst, stating, “She possesses incredible athleticism and embodies a true leader on the court. Her passion is evident, and I believed these qualities would seamlessly transfer to the beach game.” She further elaborated on Batenhorst’s height advantage, noting, “The beach game is seeing taller players emerge. To keep progressing and competing at the highest level, it’s beneficial to have a strong blocker like Ally. She’s an excellent blocker, and I truly enjoy playing defense behind her. It’s a lot of fun.” Hughes concluded with their team`s ambition: “We are determined to be the hardest-working team, and we will be. Things are moving fast, so we’re focused on staying patient with the process. Perhaps a fan will even come up with a catchy nickname for us. We’re also planning a team handshake! We want our competitors to know that our goal is to stand atop the podium.”
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick