Ally Batenhorst was all about her Husker pride last season, but fast forward to now, and things are looking different! This time, she’s on the other side of the net, playing for the Trojans after transferring to USC for her last year. In February, head coach Brad Keller announced that Ally was joining the USC women’s volleyball team for the 2024 season. And she’s been a game-changer!

With a whopping 449 hitting attempts—221 more than anyone else on the team—she’s leading USC with 161 kills at a .214 hitting percentage. Talk about making an impact! And when she stepped back into The Bob Devaney Center for the first time since making the switch, the crowd went wild! She got a standing ovation that brought tears to her eyes. But hold on, it wasn’t just the standing ovation that made her day!

Big Ten Volleyball jumped on X to share an adorable video where Ally Batenhorst’s former teammates—Lexi Rodriguez, Kennedi Orr, and Harper Murray—handed her their starting lineup ball, complete with heartfelt handwritten messages from the whole team! The post captured the moment perfectly, saying, “A special moment between former teammates Lexi Rodriguez, Kennedi Orr, and Harper Murray give Ally Batenhorst their starting lineup ball with handwritten messages from the team.”

Ally Batenhorst’s old teammate, Lexi Rodriguez, was super excited to face her close friend. “I know Husker Nation is going to give her a warm welcoming,” Lexi said, with excitement. “I haven’t seen her in a really long time. I loved playing with her. I want to see her succeed.” Even though they’re on opposite sides, Lexi thinks it’ll be a blast.

“I think it’s going to be fun to see her over there on the other side of the net in a different role and a different jersey,” she said. But no matter what happens, Lexi’s cheering for Ally, saying, “No matter how she does, I’m going to be super proud of her.” Now that’s true friendship! It looks like Rodriguez and the crew figured out how to stop Ally and her squad from getting the W!

Ally put in some solid work for the Trojans with 13 kills and nine digs as the go-to hitter. But the Huskers weren’t having it—Harper Murray and Merritt Beason led the charge with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Even with Ally’s efforts, Nebraska swept No. 20 USC 25-18, 25-22, and 25-16 at the Devaney Sports Center, holding USC to a season-low hitting percentage of .137. So, how did Ally’s seasons at Nebraska go before she made the switch?

Ally Batenhorst’s iconic time as a Cornhusker

Ally Batenhorst absolutely crushed it during her time in Nebraska! This superstar, named the 2020-21 Gatorade High School Texas and National Player of the Year, made serious waves over three seasons with the Huskers. She played in 84 matches and racked up 535 kills at an average of 2.18 kills per set, like a scoring machine!

With 606 total points, plus 120 blocks and 184 digs, she was a force on the court. And let’s not forget her beach volleyball skills, finishing with a solid 24-16 record. Her 15 wins in 2023 were the most for any Husker player in a single season. No wonder the Huskers are such a powerhouse!

Ally was an absolute star for the Huskers, playing a pivotal role in their NCAA runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2023, plus a sweet regional semifinal spot in 2022. Now, Nebraska is kicking off the Big Ten season like champs, boasting a killer 9-game winning streak and easily taking down new league rivals like UCLA and USC. Can you believe they hadn’t faced USC since 2008?

The last showdown on August 31, 2008, saw the Huskers clinch a 3-1 victory in Omaha, making this matchup a huge deal! With all that talent and energy, it’s no wonder the Huskers are keeping their winning streak alive! Next up, they’re hitting the road to face Illinois on Thursday, October 3rd. Illinois is sitting at 8-5 this season, but they just lost both their conference matches in three sets—first to Oregon and then to Washington. The Huskers are pumped and ready to keep the good vibes rolling and make some noise!