SPECIAL PLAYER
Seven Lakes’ Ally Batenhorst heads All-Greater Houston volleyball team.
Ally Batenhorst is Houston’s greatest high school volleyball product.
Perhaps that claim comes with some debate, but it should at least roll easily off the tongue after a stellar career and 2020 season culminating in Seven Lakes’ first state championship.
Batenhorst, the Chronicle’s All-Greater Houston Volleyball Player of the Year, leaves Seven Lakes with 2,384 kills, 1,389 digs, 171 aces and 254 blocks in 436 sets in four years. The total includes 574 kills, 32 aces, 33 blocks and 371 digs in 2020. She was named the Class 6A championship game’s MVP after the win over Klein. She has another state runner-up honor to her name from her freshman season.
Batenhorst, who has signed with Nebraska, reflects on a special year, the team’s bout with COVID-19 and life on the court with her sisters.
Q: What was the immediate aftermath of the state championship game like?
A: “It was so cool. We got interviewed and everything and the whole team started walking out and the fans were slamming on the doors. Everyone was so excited and they’re jumping up and down. We walked out and everyone was screaming. It was really thrilling. It was so fun. It was cool to have so many friends and family there to support us.”
Q: Seven Lakes has had great volleyball teams fall short in winning a state championship. Is there pride in being on the team able to accomplish the feat?
A: “Oh yeah. My sister (Dani) has been on many teams even before I got to school, and I’d always watch them, and they were just such great teams. They’d get so far, and they’d just miss that one game and they just never completely made it and I was just like ‘Wouldn’t that be just insane if we actually did that?’ This season our team came together, and we were like ‘Hey. We have a shot at this. We can do it.’ I think us coming together as a team and just playing for each other. We went all the way. It was just so much fun. It’s crazy we made history like that.”
Q: The team dealt with COVID-19 stoppages this year. How did you and your teammates navigate through it?
A: “Oh my gosh, we had so many random setbacks. We didn’t even know if we were going to have a season initially and once we started getting going, getting the hang of things, one of the teammates got COVID-19 and we all got tested and realized the majority of the team had it. We had to all sit out for two weeks and it was just kind of in the middle of the season. Having two weeks off from volleyball is tough obviously. When we came back in the gym, we were like ‘We still have a shot at this. This can be part of our story. We can overcome this.’ We all just started working extra hard and we were super resilient and made it all the way.”
Q: What is your reaction to being called the greatest volleyball player produced in the Houston area?
A: “That’s awesome. I’m so grateful that people are saying that. I worked really hard and it’s been super fun all four years and coach (Amy Cataline) and my teammates, I couldn’t be anywhere I am without them. I’ve just been working really hard. Its really cool people are saying that.”
Q: How did you and your sisters gravitate toward volleyball?
A: “We played basketball forever since we were little. That was kind of always our major sport that we were planning to go as far as we could in. But then, I think it was sixth grade I actually started playing club volleyball and I was kind of balancing both AAU basketball and club volleyball at the same time. Playing and practicing, I was so exhausted all the time. I realized the one practice I looked forward to was volleyball. I ended up liking that so much more. My sister felt the same. So, we ended up focusing on volleyball, got into Houston Juniors.
The family environment and the game itself is super fun. I looked forward to it and was excited about. We’ve all enjoyed it, especially going into high school I got play with my older sister (Dani) and that was really cool. My
other sister (Casey) came in and my older sister graduated. I played with (Casey). It’s fun to be able to play with each other. I guess we always loved volleyball.”
Q: You’re a long-time Nebraska commitment and currently enrolled at the school. What makes the program a fit for you?
A: “I was born in Nebraska. My whole family is from here. I’ve always kind of followed Nebraska volleyball since I was little. I always knew they were a really good program. Once I started really getting into volleyball, they offered me. They were my first offer. I always in the back of head knew it felt like home. I went on a visit and I met the coaches and the players, and I became so close with the players. I actually met my roommate that I have right now in eighth grade. I was so close with them. I just loved the environment and it’s obviously Nebraska volleyball. So, it’s super cool and they’re super good. Family being down here is definitely a bonus. It just felt like home.”