On Monday, two more USC Trojans were tapped to go pro after the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) draft.
Graduate outside hitter Ally Batenhorst and senior setter Mia Tuaniga both heard their names called during the five-round event. The Omaha Supernovas picked Batenhorst with the seventh pick in the second round of the draft (15th overall), while in the fourth round, the Atlanta Vibe decided to pick Tuaniga with the 27th overall pick.
Batenhorst’s selection will lead her to return to the state of Nebraska to start her professional career after playing three years for the University of Nebraska from 2021 to 2023, where she was part of back-to-back national runners-up squads.
After graduating from Nebraska, Batenhorst transferred to USC for her final season of college eligibility, where she has become a crucial option in the Trojans’ offensive attack throughout their first season in the Big Ten. In her time at USC, Batenhorst has totalled 416 kills (3.78 kps) and is currently hitting .228. She has also had 86.0 total blocks (0.76 bps) this season and has racked up 489.5 points (4.50 pps) through 28 games so far as a Trojan.
Tuaniga will head to the other side of the country to join the Atlanta Vibe. Tuaniga has spent the past four seasons with USC and has been a key player in head coach Brad Keller’s rebuild of USC. Like Batenhorst, Tuaniga has also been an integral part of USC’s success in the Big Ten this season.
After being named to the Big Ten Preseason All-Conference Team prior to the 2024 season, Tuaniga has lived up to the high expectations. So far this year, Tuaniga has dished out 1,093 assists, and has a career total of 4,402, currently putting her in second place on the all-time USC assist leaderboard. In addition, Tuaniga’s jump serve has been lethal to opposing teams; she has 44 service aces on the season.
Before the duo joins the PVF in January, Tuaniga and Batenhorst will play the final two games of the 2024 regular season with USC before taking part in the NCAA tournament for the final time in their collegiate careers, where they will look to bring home USC’s first national title since 2003. Once they turn pro, their first professional match happens to be against each other, as Batenhorst’s Supernovas will host Tuaniga’s Vibe on January 10 to kick off the 2025 PVF season.
Tuaniga and Batenhorst will look to win the final two games of the regular season against Washington in Seattle on Wednesday and Iowa at Galen Center on Friday before leading USC into the NCAAs and turning pro in January for their professional debut against each other.