Seven Lakes’ Batenhorst named to MaxPreps, AVCA preseason All-America teams

By Cole McNanna | Special to the Katy Times
Posted 9/7/20

Seven Lakes Lady Spartans senior outside hitter and University of Nebraska commit Ally Batenhorst recently landed on MaxPreps’ preseason All-America first team as well as the American …

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Seven Lakes’ Batenhorst named to MaxPreps, AVCA preseason All-America teams

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Seven Lakes Lady Spartans senior outside hitter and University of Nebraska commit Ally Batenhorst recently landed on MaxPreps’ preseason All-America first team as well as the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason All-America watch list and was joined by some teammates in the latter group.

Batenhorst was last year’s District 19-6A outstanding hitter with 274 kills and added 171 digs, 24 blocks and 16 aces to help Seven Lakes take second and clinch a Bi-District Championship. She was honored by MaxPreps as one of 25 student athletes from across the country earning a first-team bid. Batenhorst was joined by eight other Texans on the first team, thrice as many nominations from California and Michigan each.

She was also one of 10 Katy ISD volleyballers named to AVCA’s Under Armour All-America watchlist which will recognize 150 of the top volleyball players in the nation when the teams and honorable mentions are announced in November. This puts her in a list with 168 other Texans who made the All-America watchlist. Another 239 Texans landed on the phenom list reserved for uncommitted non-seniors.

Batenhorst’s teammates – setter Kaia Nickel and middle block Mayo Olibale – also cracked the All-America watchlist. Casey Batenhorst, Ally’s sister, a 6-foot-tall member of the Class of 2022, also represented Seven Lakes on the phenom list.

Cinco Ranch had four seniors on the watchlist with libero Hayley Byrd, setter Eva Fitzgerald, outside hitter Kayla Griebl and libero Brooke Hirsch, a UTSA commit, earning a spot. In addition, junior setter Catalina Martinez and sophomore outside Courtney O’Brien registered spots on the phenom list.

Katy High had two representatives each on the watchlist and phenom list. Seniors Hannah Hoover, a libero and Navy commit, and Perris Key, an outside hitter committed to Texas Rio Grande Valley, landed on the watchlist and juniors Jordan Gamble and Maddie Waak made the phenom list.

Rounding out the All-America watchlist nominations was Tompkins’ Eliana Posada, a 6-foot, 1-inch right side hitter committed to the University of Pittsburg. Five of her Lady Falcons teammates were named to the phenom list in junior outside hitter Paris Herrman, along with sophomore outside hitters Cindy Tchouangwa, Kaitlin Lopez and Tendai Titley, as well as setter Presley Powell.

Also landing on the phenom list were a pair from the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools circuit in Faith West Academy’s Haley Muse, a sophomore setter, and St. John XXIII’s Margot Manning, another sophomore setter, who both play for the same club team.

Seven Lakes, Lady Spartans, Ally Batenhorst, Kaia Nickel, Mayo Olibale, Casey Batenhorst, Cinco Ranch, Hayley Byrd, Eva Fitzgerald, Kayla Griebl, Brooke Hirsch, UTSA, Courtney O'Brien, Jordan Gabmel, Maddie Waak, Perris Key, Katy High, Hannah Hoover, Lady Falcons, Eliana Posada, Paris Herrman, Cindy Tchouangwa, Kaitlin Lopez, Tendai Titley, Presley Powell, Faith West Academy, Haley Muse, Margot Manning,