A former Nebraska Cornhusker and professional indoor volleyball player is making a transition to the beach. Ally Batenhorst is pairing with reigning beach volleyball world champion Sara Hughes, leading up to the LA 2028 Olympics.

Battenhorst spent the last year playing for the Omaha Supernovas in the Pro Volleyball Federation. The former Husker told NBC 4 Los Angeles that she’s excited to make this change in her volleyball career.

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

Battenhorst played at Nebraska from 2021 to 2023, participating in both indoor and beach volleyball. She would transfer to USC for the 2024 season and would be named an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention.

Hughes began looking for a new partner after suffering from an Achilles tendon injury, and her 2024 Olympic partner, Kelly Chen, left to partner with Molly Shaw.

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The Hungarian men’s water polo team defeated reigning Olympic champions Serbia 19–18 in the semi-finals of the World Championships in Singapore on Tuesday.

The Hungarians led by five goals with just six minutes remaining, but the Serbs mounted a late comeback, making for a tense finish. The victory marks Hungary’s first win over Serbia at the World Championships since 1998.

Following the latest triumph in Fukuoka in 2023, national team captain Zsolt Varga is now preparing for his second consecutive World Championship final at the helm of the men’s team. Hungary will face European champions Spain in Thursday’s final. The two sides met earlier in the tournament during the third round of the group stage, where Spain edged out Hungary by a single goal, thanks to a 5–1 run in the fourth quarter.

Hungary is on the brink of making history: if Varga’s team defeat Spain, the country will secure its fifth world championship title—more than any other nation. Hungary currently shares the record with Italy, both holding four titles. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán alluded to this in his congratulatory message on Facebook, declaring: ‘Hungary is a polo kingdom!’

The Hungarian women’s water polo team also advanced to the final and will face Greece on Wednesday.

Hungary has long been a powerhouse in the sport. The national team has been crowned European champions 13 times—a continental record. Notably, Hungary’s most recent European title came in 2020, in a dramatic shootout victory against Spain.

The country is also the most successful nation in Olympic water polo history, having secured nine gold medals. Hungary famously won three consecutive Olympic titles from Sydney 2000 to Beijing 2008—an unprecedented feat in the modern era. Between 1928 and 1980, Hungary reached the podium in every Olympic tournament, claiming 12 consecutive medals, including back-to-back golds in 1932–1936 and 1952–1956.

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WALTHAM, Mass. – For the 15^th straight year both the Bentley men’s and women’s track and field teams were recognized as All-Academic Teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Caitlin Burmester, recently named a CSC Academic All-America, was named an All-Academic Athlete by the USTFCCCA. She adds to her incredible tally of awards for her senior year that includes the NE10 Scholar Athlete of the Year and three NE10 Sport Excellence Awards, for cross country and indoor and outdoor track.

To qualify as an All-Academic Athlete, the individual must have at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA and have finished the season among the top 50 individuals as listed on the descending order lists on TFRRS

To qualify as an All-Academic Team, the cumulative GPA for all student-athletes on the institution’s NCAA Squad List for Indoor and/or Outdoor Track and Field must be 3.0 or higher.

The Bentley men’s team posted the seventh highest GPA among Division II squads.

 

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men’s volleyball team has earned a 2025 AVCA Team Academic Award, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Monday.
 
It marked the second time in as many seasons the Patriots have garnered the team accolade. To receive the honor, a team must maintain a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.

The Patriots impressed with a cumulative 3.32 GPA across the program’s 22 student-athletes.

 

“I’m very proud of our team and how they handled their academic responsibilities to achieve at an outstanding level in the classroom,” head coach Jay Hosack said. “Our student-athletes not only found success on the court this season, but also performed as champions off of it as well.”

 

George Mason has now earned the award four times over the past six seasons.

 

The Patriots posted a 16-13 record in 2024-25 and reached the EIVA Semifinals for the third-straight season.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Former Nebraska and USC volleyball player Ally Batenhorst is leaving the Omaha Supernovas, and indoor volleyball all together.

Batenhorst said on social media that she’s moving to beach volleyball and partnering with Olympian Sara Hughes.

Batenhorst finished her rookie season in the Pro Volleyball Federation with 128 kills, nearly three per set.

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TYLER, TEXAS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has announced the 2025 NCAA Division II Scholar-Athletes and All-Academic Teams.

Both the UT Tyler men’s and women’s track & field programs were recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams, marking the sixth consecutive year each has earned the honor. In addition, four student-athletes from each program were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes.

To qualify as an All-Academic Team, programs must hold a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, as certified by the institution’s registrar.

To be named a USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete, student-athletes must have at least a 3.25 GPA, be academically eligible for the NCAA Championships, and have finished the season ranked among the top 50 individuals or competed on one of the top 35 relay teams in the country.

Representing the Patriots men’s team were Brandon Arenas, Jackson Crysup, Landon Smith, and Ashton Turner.

Representing the Patriots women’s team were Kamaria Carr, Juliane Frueh, Aerin Thompson, and Bracie Vaughn.