For someone who was born on Valentine’s Day, it’s only natural that Sara Hughes radiates her love for volleyball whenever she is on court. There’s some swagger about how Hughes goes about her business that has made her stand out as one of the best defenders in women’s beach volleyball. Her explosive dives, her precision in passing and intelligent movement tell the story of an impeccable volleyball talent built for over two decades on the sand.
Ever since she first came into contact with volleyball in Huntington Beach, California at the age of 8, Hughes has dedicated her entire life to the sport and it’s fair to say that the sport has loved her back. For Hughes, beach volleyball has been a constant source of joy. It’s on the sand that she became a Beach Pro Tour champion in Qatar, World champion in Mexico and an Olympian in Paris. Unfortunately, her meteoric rise was slowed down by an Achilles tendon injury she suffered in January last year. But after close to a year in the cold, Hughes is back like she never left with a new partner Ally Batenhorst.
“I love the game so much, and I really missed being out there competing. I did watch a lot, but it’s just not the same — my mind and my body wanted to be out there. Physically, I had to rebuild a lot after the injury, but honestly, I’ve never felt stronger,” Hughes told FIVB.com. “It feels amazing. I’m just grateful to be healthy and back competing, and I’m really excited to have a full season again, especially with Ally as my new partner.”
Sara Hughes (right) celebrates a point with her new partner Ally Batenhorst during the 2025 Beach Pro Tour Elite16 stop held in Newport Beach, California
It took Hughes 10 months to fully recover and make her return to the court in the Beach Pro Tour Elite16 stop held in Newport Beach, California last October. According to Hughes, the long injury layoff was a defining moment in her professional career that shook her to the core.
“I honestly didn’t have a doubt in my mind that I could come back and play at the highest level again. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and had to work really hard, but I never questioned whether I would return,” reflected Hughes.
“I was in physical therapy every day and approached getting healthy with that mentality — just staying locked in and doing the work. I was able to get back on the court within 10 months of surgery, and it really reminded me how amazing the body is and how quickly it can heal when you commit to the process. I’m so thankful for the team around me, especially the McCarthy group, for standing behind me from day one,” she added.
In hindsight, Sara believes she has returned a better player. The injury setback not only offered a timely break that she hardly knew she needed but also an opportunity to thoroughly assess her game.
“Rebuilding trust in my body was tough at first, but trusting my rehab team, especially my trainer, and taking it step by step helped. This journey showed me how amazing the support around me really is, and I couldn’t have done it without them. Now I feel stronger than ever and confident I can perform at my highest level,” explained Hughes.
“I think the injury period changed me as a player because it gave me time to really focus on areas of my game that I wanted to improve. Even though I’ve played at the highest level, there were still so many things I knew I could get better at, and this time away gave me the opportunity to work on those things,” noted the 31-year-old.
“As a person, it definitely made me stronger. Going through something like this reminded me how much I truly love the game, and how badly I wanted to come back and find that joy again. It also made me appreciate the importance of having the right partnership and continuing to spread love and excitement for the sport,” she asserted.
Hughes’ new partner Batenhorst is eight years her junior and is still green in beach volleyball. Following her promising career in high-school and collegiate indoor volleyball, the 23-year-old outside hitter was a rising star of Omaha Supernovas competing in USA’s Pro Volleyball Federation. Before teaming up with Hughes, Batenhorst hadn’t played beach volleyball professionally, but she played both indoor and beach volleyball at the University of Nebraska.
“Making this jump to a new partnership was a little scary, but it’s already become one of the most important steps in my career. I’m really excited about it, Ally is an incredible player and she’s made the indoor-to-beach transition look almost easy. I’ve never been happier and never felt so free on the court,” Hughes spoke glowingly of the 196cm Batenhorst.
Newport was a baptism of fire especially for Batenhorst as she came up against world class opponents on her Beach Pro Tour debut. However, Hughes has backed her to come good this season and remains optimistic that they can form a partnership that would work their way up the World Rankings.
“Our on-court chemistry has felt really natural from the start. We haven’t played a ton of tournaments yet, but even in practice we’ve built something special. We’ve had some great moments and worked through tough ones too, and our communication has been key through all of it,” pointed out Hughes. “I’m excited to compete in a full season, gain international experience with Ally, win some medals, and most importantly, have fun along the way.”
Ally Batenhorst, Sara Hughes’ new partner, in action during the 2025 Beach Pro Tour Elite16 stop held in Newport Beach, California
Hughes & Batenhorst will begin the 2026 season with the Challenge event in Bhubaneswar, India scheduled for 4 to 9 March. As a former world champion, the spotlight will definitely be on Hughes in her first full season post-injury but she is not losing sleep over it.
“I don’t think the time away has changed my perspective on success or pressure. As a professional athlete, there’s always pressure. What did shift is how I want to approach the game, how I want to make an impact, and how I want to feel on the court.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s fair to say I’m just picking up where I left off. I’m fully focused on this new journey. It feels like a fresh chapter for me, and we’re both motivated to prove ourselves and work toward becoming one of the best teams in the world.
“We’re starting with the first Challenge tournament in India, and as a team, I’m embracing new goals with my partnership and my coach. We push each other every day, and we both want to win just as badly. She’s also become a close friend, and I’m genuinely excited for what’s ahead. Our focus is on competing against the best teams in the world and building something great together.”
Sara Hughes in action during the 2025 Beach Pro Tour Elite16 stop held in Newport Beach, California
It was put to Hughes to single out that one moment in preseason that made her believe that she was truly back to her brilliant best. Her reply:
“This is a fun question! It’s kind of hard to pinpoint because it’s more of a feeling for me. Sometimes it’s running a quick set play or digging a really tough ball and turning it into a point in transition. Mostly, it’s just that feeling of confidence, knowing I can do anything on the court and trusting myself again.”
The new season will however come with a new bag of tricks for Hughes’ fans.
“I’m really excited to showcase my hand setting this season, and I’ve also been working a lot on a new serve so I’m excited for people to see that part of my game in 2026. Fans will see a dynamic, powerful player who never gives up, fights for every point, and shares the joy and love I have for the sport.”
Sara Hughes and beach volleyball, a true love story with no end in sight.
