nscottie said:

Can’t read the entire article. What is her defense for the banned substance? I just don’t see Ally as someone willingly breaking the rules.

Click to expand...

Beach volleyball player Ally Batenhorst suspended after positive drug test​

Batenhorst, the playing partner of world beach champion Sara Hughes, is appealing the suspension​

Scott M. ReidNovember 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM PST

Ally Batenhorst speaks as a member of the USC volleyball team as Big Ten Media Day on Aug. 6, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rising beach volleyball star Ally Batenhorst, the partner of world champion Sara Hughes, has been suspended by the sport’s international governing body after testing positive for a banned substance, the Southern California News Group has learned.

Batenhorst is appealing the decision, her agent Thomas P. McCarthy confirmed to SCNG.

Batenhorst, 23, tested positive for what McCarthy described as a prescription medication after a match at the Elite 16 tournament, a Beach Pro Tour stop in Newport Beach last month. Batenhorst was notified of the positive test by FIVB, volleyball’s worldwide governing body, Tuesday night.

FIVB has not announced the suspension.

“Ally has a Dr. prescribed prescription/medication that both the FIVB and USA Volleyball were and are aware of prior to the FIVB drug test administered in Newport Beach,” McCarthy wrote in an email to SCNG. “All the necessary paperwork has been filed and we expect the suspension to be lifted as soon as the review process is complete.”

McCarthy added that “Parties trying to expedite review process as all documentation has been filed.”

Hughes, a former Mater Dei and USC standout, surprised the sport when it was announced in July that she had selected Batenhorst as her new partner. Hughes had been sidelined by an Achilles tendon injury since competing at the 2024 Olympic Games where she and Kelly Cheng were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Batenhorst had no previous professional beach experience, playing for the Omaha Supernovas, a professional indoor team, before teaming up with Hughes.

“When I first saw her, I was like, ‘Wow,’” Hughes told NBC in July. “She has such athleticism. She looks like a true leader on the court. She’s very passionate, and I thought all those would translate to the beach.”

Batenhorst, 6-feet-5 outside, was a member of the U.S. national indoor training team in 2020 before playing three years at Nebraska. She transferred to USC prior to the 2024 season after graduating from Nebraska. She was an All-Big Ten and honorable mention All-American selection for the Trojans.

“I would say it’s like a completely different sport,” Batenhorst 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.”

Huskers Sign Three for 2026
Huskers.com

The Nebraska volleyball program and Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly on Wednesday announced the addition of three talented players who will join the Huskers in 2026.

The Huskers secured the signatures of three of the top prospects in the nation. They are outside hitter Gabby DiVita (Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan), outside/opposite hitter Jayden Robinson (Missouri City, Texas) and middle blocker Keoni Williams (Fort Worth, Texas).

All three plan to enroll at Nebraska in January.

2026 Nebraska Volleyball Signing Class

Gabby DiVita (6-1, OH, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan - Grosse Pointe South/Legacy)
- Selected to compete in the Under Armour Next All-America Game in January 2026
- Was a four-time AAU All-American and won the AAU 15U national title with her club, Legacy
- Won the 16U Triple Crown title and was named MVP in 2024
- Served as captain for the U.S. National Team Development Program
- Was a three-time JVA All-National Team selection and a three-time USAV All-Tournament team member
- Named a Prep Volleyball All-American two times
- Played for her mother, Janeil, at Grosse Point South High School in Michigan
- Named to the 2025 AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
- Named a 2024 AVCA High School All-American
- Chosen as a finalist for the 2025 Michigan Miss Volleyball Award
- Was a four-time all-state selection and Macomb Area Conference MVP
- As a senior, averaged 5.8 kills per set with a .420 hitting percentage, along with 3.8 digs per set and 49 service aces to lead the Blue Devils to a district title
- Amassed more than 2,000 career kills and 1,100 career digs -- both school records
- Ranked the No. 19 overall prospect by PrepDig and No. 20 by PrepVolleyball

"Gabby is a really high-level six-rotation player," said Coach Busboom Kelly. "She has a great arm and volleyball IQ, and her serve receive and back-row play have always been a strength of her game. Gabby comes from the same club as Harper Murray and Campbell Flynn (Legacy), so we've developed a pretty good relationship with them. Gabby is a coach's kid and has always wanted to be a Husker, and we are fortunate to have her join our program."

Jayden Robinson (6-3, OH/OPP, Missouri City, Texas - Ridge Point/Houston Skyline)
- Selected to compete in the Under Armour Next All-America Game in January 2026
- Won the gold medal with the U.S. U19 National Team at the 2024 NORCECA Continental Championship
- Was a U.S. U19 National Team member for the 2025 FIVB Women's U21 World Championships in Indonesia.
- Played club volleyball at Houston Skyline
- Won the 17 Open USAV Girls Junior National Championships gold medal in 2025 and was named to the All-Tournament Team
- Earned club first-team All-America honors in 2025
- Claimed the 15 Open bronze medal at the 2023 USAV GJNC
- Was named her club's Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 and 2025, and Breakout Player in 2023
- Attended Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas
- Named to the 2025 AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
- Named a 2024 AVCA High School All-American
- Earned District 21-6A MVP honors in 2025 and was a three-time all-district honoree
- Was a two-time District 21-6A Blocker of the Year
- In her senior season in 2025, led Ridge Point to a 33-14 record and a district title
- Averaged 5.0 kills per set with a .381 hitting percentage, as well as 2.9 digs per set and 45 service aces
- Ranked the No. 10 overall prospect by PrepVolleyball and No. 12 by PrepDig

"Jayden is a very physical pin player," remarked Coach Busboom Kelly. "She has experience playing on the left pin in club and high school, and she's played opposite for Team USA. Jayden is a physical attacker and blocker and can hit out of the back row as well. We're excited to see how her all-around game translates to the college level. She's one of the big-time athletes in this class and comes from a very athletic family. Jayden has really developed her skill set and we are thrilled to have her."

Keoni Williams (6-4, MB, Fort Worth, Texas - Eagle Mountain/Dallas Skyline)
- Pronounced key-AW-knee
- Selected to compete in the Under Armour Next All-America Game in January 2026
- Was a U.S. U19 National Team member for the 2025 FIVB Women's U21 World Championships in Indonesia
- With her club, Dallas Skyline, won the gold medal at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships 15 Open in 2023
- Was named to the All-Tournament Team and MVP following her club national title
- Also won the 13 Open Club national championship with the Frisco Flyers in 2021
- Named to the 2025 AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
- Won the Triple Crown title with Dallas Skyline in 2023 and was an All-Tournament selection
- Was named district Blocker of the Year in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was a two-time Dallas Skyline MVP
- Chosen to the AAU Girls Junior National Championship All-Tournament Team in 2023-24
- Earned Texas all-state honors following her sophomore and junior seasons
- Has led Eagle Mountain High School to the Texas 4A Division 2 state semifinals to be played on Nov. 15
- in her senior season, is averaging 3.5 kills per set with a .553 hitting percentage, along with 1.3 blocks per set
- As a freshman at Boswell High School, broke the school record for blocks in a season with 185
- Ranked the No. 8 overall prospect by PrepDig and No. 10 by PrepVolleyball

Coach Busboom Kelly: "Keoni is an extremely athletic middle blocker. She moves very well laterally across the net, which is important for a middle. We're impressed with her physicality, and her attacking arm has really developed. Keoni has played for some very good club teams in the Dallas area, and she was able to go to the World Championships this past summer. She's one of the top middles in this class, and we're happy she chose to be a Husker."