Batenhorst wins Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year
KATY, Texas (BVM) — Seven Lakes High School head volleyball coach Amy Cataline has been coaching for almost 15 years. For four of those years, she has been at Seven Lakes, coaching one of the best volleyball players she’s ever seen.
“I’ve had a lot of phenomenal volleyball players [over the years],” Cataline said. “But Ally stands out as a player that is able to do it all at a high level.”
The 6-foot-4 senior, who is now committed to playing volleyball at the University of Nebraska, helped lead the Spartans team to a 25-1 overall record this past season. During the 26-game stretch, she recorded 574 kills, 371 digs, 33 blocks, and 32 aces.
so excited to say i have verbally committed to play volleyball at the University of Nebraska!! thank you to everyone who has supported me!! GBR❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/awYcm3VQda
— Ally Batenhorst (@allybatenhorstt) September 16, 2018
“Ally Batenhorst is legit the best high school volleyball player I have ever seen,” Tompkins High School head volleyball coach Allison Merrell said in a Gatorade press release. “She is unreal. She refined her craft this year and somehow improved her ball control, which was already really, really good.”
Along with a successful individual season, Batenhorst helped the Spartans capture the Class 6A title. She was named MVP of the tournament. She also got to hoist the trophy with her younger sister, Casey.
“It was special because I [got to watch] these girls grow up in the last four years,” Cataline said. “We’ve grown together as Spartans. It was special.”
Before winning the state title, Ally also got to play with her older sister, Danielle. They were both outside hitters for a Spartan team that finished runner-up in the state tournament. During the 2017 University Interscholastic League (UIL) state tournament, Ally set the UIL state record with 36 kills in one match.
“All the girls [who won state this year] were freshmen when varsity was in the state tournament,” Cataline stated. “They got to witness it, and for them to take it a step further, I think it made it really memorable and special for them. They carried out the legacy of the girls before them.”
Following an eye-opening freshman season, Batenhorst continued to dominate the volleyball court. As a junior, she was a candidate for the Gatorade Player of the Award but never made it to the finals. And now she is being recognized as the best high school volleyball player in the country. It was a well-kept secret and Olympic medalist April Ross helped tell Ally she was being recognized as the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Sets, spikes, and blocks, Ally Batenhorst can do it all on the 🏐 court. What a way to cap off a great high school career by winning the 2020-21 National Volleyball #GatoradePOY🏆 pic.twitter.com/ybPjwZJuRi
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) May 12, 2021
Ally will now set her sights on a national championship. She was able to graduate early and enrolled in Nebraska this January. Because she graduated early, Batenhorst was able to see what it was like to compete at the collegiate level due to the pandemic postponing Nebraska’s 2020 season.
The Cornhuskers went 16-3 in the 19 games they played this spring.
“I think Nebraska is a great fit for her,” Cataline said. “I think she’ll rise to the occasion, and I think she’ll contribute immediately and will help them win a championship. That’s what she desires.”
Batenhorst will join a Husker team with three former volleyball Gatorade Player of the Year winners: Lindsay Krause, Kennedi Orr, and Lexi Rodriguez.
Gatorade not only quenches your thirst better, it tastes better too.#GBR 🤙 @lindsaykrause_ @allybatenhorstt @kennaorr7 @Alexis14Rod pic.twitter.com/3yDjLTHnjg
— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) May 7, 2021
The sky is the limit for Batenhorst and this Husker volleyball team.
“She’s focused, and she’s a quiet leader,” Cataline said. “She takes everyone under her wing, brings everyone together and elevates the play of everyone around her.”
