Nebraska volleyball fans had been sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for Ally Batenhorst to suit up after the Omaha Supernovas signed her in November 2024. And oh, it was worth the wait! A month of waiting came to an end for Batenhorst when she got her chance, entering the game in the fourth set against the Atlanta Vibe on January 10th. Even though she wasn’t initially brought into the game, once she got into the game, she went all out.

Ally Batenhorst was on fire, scoring 6 kills and 3 digs to help lead the Supernovas to a 3-2 victory (22-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13) in their match of the 2025 season opener. But that wasn’t all—after such a heated debut, Batenhorst gave fans a peek behind the curtain with an update from the Supernovas’ wholesome locker room. Pure vibes all around!

Ally Batenhorst posted a TikTok video on January 11 that featured a cute inside look at the Omaha Supernovas’ locker room. The team was hanging out by their lockers, showcasing a fresh update to their nameplates, and Ally was more than willing to give fans a look at how each of the players personalized it. The video started with Ally eagerly showing off the new nameplates, saying, “Okay guys, we got new. What are these things? Name plates. Name plates? What did you put on yours, Katie?” Katie proudly explained her choices, saying, “A heart for my family. And Ryan. Oh, my two schools. That’s a state of Nebraska.”

Then, Ally turned to Kendra, who shared, “I put my home state of Kansas and Creighton. Blue Jays.” Ally couldn’t help but gush, “Cute Blue Jays.” Moving on, she asked Kelsey Payne, “Hi. What do you? Ohio?” Kelsey, laughing, replied, “I put, um. It’s supposed to be Texas, but it’s Ohio. A J. Hawk, Sagittarius. Cause like…” Ally playfully responded, “beautiful, beautiful.” When it came to Ally’s own nameplate, she proudly showed off SC and Nebraska and said, “Yay!” Ally then continued, “Okay, Lindsay, show us your thingy.”

Lindsay’s response was just as touching, revealing a butterfly, Nebraska, and a cross, saying, “Oh, and a cross, because my mom always called me her butterfly and said I was born to fly.” Ally was so happy that she had to say, “Oh, that’s so cute. Haha.” The whole vibe? Beyond adorable. So, back to Ally Batenhorst’s nameplate with SC and Nebraska on it? Total representation of her journey through volleyball—past and present.

Ally Batenhorst began her collegiate career at Nebraska but transferred to USC in 2024 as a graduate student. While at Nebraska, she was a standout player in 30 matches, contributing 2.25 kills per set, 54 digs, and 52 blocks. By the time she wrapped up her college career as a Trojan, she had made a serious mark in the game. However, fast forward to her arrival in Omaha; the first game was like she never left home, welcoming her back to Nebraska. Three different teams, but the same amount of heart, hustle, and passion.

Ally Batenhorst’s heartwarming homecoming!

Friday night was one that people would not easily forget, for sure. The Chi Health Center in Nebraska, which became home to so many amazing volleyball moments, was ready to create yet another one in its history. The fans couldn’t contain their excitement as some familiar names made their way into the arena. Ally Batenhorst, Merritt Beason, and a couple of other ex-Creighton players came out to play, and the crowd was in it. When the names waved and tossed balls into the audience, you could sense that the atmosphere changed—the place was charged, and it was like homecoming again.

When the Omaha Supernovas and the Atlanta Vibe came out on the court, it was like a homecoming for the two. Supernovas’ Ally Batenhorst competed against her former Nebraska teammate Merritt Beason, who is now playing for the Vibe. But it was not only Ally and Beason in this episode. Another familiar face was Lindsay Krause, who was also in Nebraskan territory after transferring to the Supernovas after four years with the Huskers. Beside her, two more girls with Nebraska backgrounds, Kayla Caffey and Kaitlyn Hord, were playing for the Supernovas, which only spiced up this homecoming game even more.

Before the action got underway, Beason took a lap around the court during warmups, and the crowd went wild. It was evident that the fans still had it in their mind that they had a star captain. When the names were called later, the cheers continued. Ally, Lindsay, and Beason were all welcomed by the fans’ applause as the fans showered them with so much love. This was one of those nights where everyone was so full of energy and came together to not only the game but also the players that made the Nebraska volleyball team what it is today.