Sara Hughes

Sara Hughes started playing beach volleyball at the age of eight in Huntington Beach, CA. She fell in love with the sport and grew up watching her favorite player Misty May-Treanor on the AVP. Sara continued her love for the sport by accepting a full scholarship to play beach volleyball at the University of Southern California. She was a 2-time Pairs National Champion with partners Kirby Burnham and Kelly (Claes) Cheng, a 3-time Team National Champion, and a 4-time All-American, finishing her collegiate career with a record of 190-8. 

Sara won her first AVP during her 2017 rookie season with partner Kelly Cheng, becoming the youngest team to ever win an AVP event. She partnered with Summer Ross in 2018, reaching the Finals in every AVP tournament they participated in, taking home victories in New York and Hermosa Beach. Sara will have her name enshrined on the Manhattan Beach Pier in Summer 2023 after her thrilling come-from-behind third-set MBO victory in 2022 with partner Kelley Kolinske. Sara is a member of the USA Beach Volleyball National Team, winning multiple medals on the FIVB. She has her sights set on multiple Olympic Games with her reinstated partner Kelly Cheng. Her favorite AVP tournaments are any that her family can attend.