Taking the Next Step

By Ally Batenhorst

Let’s face it, I’m not exactly an LA girl. Growing up in a suburb of Houston, with all my extended family in Nebraska, my two sisters and I fell in love with volleyball. Each of us played at the collegiate level so when I got the opportunity to continue my playing career at a blue-blood volleyball school, Nebraska, be with my family and stay close to home, I couldn’t pass it up. But after three incredible years as a Cornhusker, I also couldn’t pass up the opportunity to finish my collegiate career at USC and take the next step personally, academically and athletically to keep pushing myself forward.

So I fulfilled a lifelong dream of moving out west, to the land of opportunity, to make the most of mine. I’ve been a part of some of the biggest moments on the biggest stages in our sport. But the LA lights always shine just that little bit brighter. I owed it to myself to make the most of my final season. To find a new home that would set me up for success in my professional career and beyond volleyball.

This program is on the come up and I wanted to be a part of its growth. Earlier this season, we broke the home attendance record in our match against UCLA. Things like this matter and I want to continue to use my platform to create positive change not just for USC women’s volleyball, but for volleyball as a whole, and women’s sports in general.

I wanted to take the next step on the court. To be a leader. To push myself and grow my game. USC was, and is, the perfect place for me to do just that.

LUNA NUEVA: SIP INTENTIONALLY

With just two home football games left, we don’t want you to miss out on the best place to kick off your game day! Passes are still available for House of Victory’s ULTIMATE TAILGATE powered by The Rex Steakhouse on Nov. 16 for the Nebraska game and Nov. 30 for the Notre Dame game. Saturday’s tailgate begins at 10 a.m. ahead of a B1G game and will feature appearances from current student-athletes including Women’s Basketball’s Kennedy Smith and Women’s Volleyball’s Ally Batenhorst.

Enjoy gourmet cuisine, an open bar, exclusive VIP amenities, and the chance to rub shoulders with USC legends and current student-athletes. Buy your passes now and be part of the best tailgate around!

As part of the upcoming ZOZOFIT Trojan Golf Classic, House of Victory is hosting an auction featuring exclusive prizes and opportunities you won’t find anywhere else to support NIL opportunities for USC's Men's and Women's Golf programs.

Bid now for a chance to win exciting prizes like signed memorabilia, VIP football game day experiences, golf at incredible courses including Riviera CC, getaway travel packages and more!

DEVELOPING, BUILDING, AND MANAGING YOUR DREAM PROJECT

Our USC Men's and Women's Basketball student-athletes recently spent a day coaching and participating in an Angel City Sports wheelchair basketball clinic through a special NIL engagement. Whether learning from the experienced players or offering their own coaching insights, our Trojan hoopers fully embraced the experience.

The student-athletes gained a deeper appreciation for the sport they love, while also using their platform to empower and inspire others on the court. Moments like these exemplify the Trojan spirit - our athletes are not only focused on their own success, but are actively looking for ways to make a positive impact and uplift the broader basketball community. Click here to watch a full recap of this inspiring event.

The USC Soccer team is making history! The Trojans have earned the program's first-ever No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, and they'll be hosting Sacramento State in the opening round Sunday, Nov. 17 to begin their championship run.

In their first season as a Big Ten member, USC won the conference regular season title with an undefeated 10-0-1 record. The Trojans posted an impressive 15-1-3 mark for the season, with their lone loss coming against then-No. 1 Stanford in September. USC finished the regular season on a 13-game unbeaten streak, including an eight-game winning run.

This marks the Trojans' 23rd NCAA Postseason appearance and 11th straight dating back to 2014. USC has hoisted the national championship trophy twice before, in 2007 and 2016, but this is the first time they've entered the tournament as the top overall seed.

Show your support for our Women of Troy as they kick off another exciting postseason by contributing to our Arrival of the Trojan campaign. Your support directly impacts current Trojans on and off the field, in addition to future Trojans and their recruitment needs.

WHERE TOMORROW’S TECH COMPANIES MEET NOW