Following a standout first season with the Gators, rising sophomore libero Lily Hayes has made another memorable mark on the court.
Representing Team USA in the 2026 NORCECA Women’s U21 Pan American Cup, Hayes helped the team bring home gold.
Losing only one set across six matches, Team USA finished with a lead in kills (47-27), blocks (9-5) and aces (7-4).
The tournament is made up of eight international teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Overall, the U.S. has taken home five titles, four since 2022. The team’s latest trophy, under head coach Tama Miyashiro, came against Canada in this year’s tournament held July 7-12 in Columbus, Ohio.
With Hayes’ teammate also present this year and other players’ history, the tournament showed just how threatening Florida may be this upcoming season.
In the 2025 NORCECA Women’s U21 Pan American Cup, rising junior setter Taylor Parks played a defiant role in Team USA’s success. The team swept Chile 3-0 in the championship and remained undefeated in its five matches.
Throughout those matches, Parks recorded 10 service aces and made 36 setting attempts in the final.
With Florida’s inconsistency last year, Parks’ efforts this season will be critical to combatting top competitors.
This year, rising redshirt sophomore opposite hitter Logan King represented Canada, putting UF players on opposing sides of the championship game.
In Canada’s conquest of the Dominican Republic’s team to secure a game with Team USA, King led the offense with a total of 16 points.
Hayes anchored the backcourt in the gold medal match, leading the team in digs (6) and receptions (7). She also played a key role in the 2025 Girls U19 National Team, helping Team USA earn a silver medal at the FIVB World Championships.
The 5-foot-9 Tampa native is the first true freshman to open a season with UF as a libero since Elyse Cusack in 2006. She’s also the first new libero the program has seen in five years, with Elli McKissock sporting the jersey from 2020-24.
Last season, she also made a strong impression by recording 391 digs, which was not only the team high but the fourth most by a freshman in program history. She averaged a team-leading 3.62 digs per set, which also ranked ninth in the SEC.
These digs prove Hayes can cover the court well, possibly turning kills into playable balls and creating more attacking opportunities for the offense.
In addition to placing third highest in assists (104) for the team last season, Hayes also demonstrated her ability to contribute offensively by recording 14 aces — the fifth highest on the team.
With her contributions, she was named to the 2025 SEC All-Freshman Team.
This year, Florida volleyball is challenged with the departure of many familiar faces and consistent key players, including Alexis Stucky, Emily Canaan, Ella Vogel and Jaela Auguste.
The loss of Canaan and Vogel will undoubtedly be a challenge for Florida’s back row. However, rising redshirt senior defensive specialist Emerson Hoyle will be back on the court after sitting out last season due to injury. She was not a major contributor in her first few seasons, but she will provide experience and a veteran presence to the back row.
Returning defensive specialist Bella Lee will also be called upon to take on a larger role in her junior campaign. She showed flashes last season but will need to be a consistent force beside Hayes. Outside hitter Kira Hutson also transitioned to the back row last season. If she stays at the position or plays all-around, she will be one of Hayes’ biggest helps in locking down Florida’s serve-receive.
However, with Hayes in mind, the backcourt seems to be in good hands. If she continues at this pace, the libero puts Florida’s defense in a desirable position for the 2026 season.
Contact Nicole Scura at nscura@alligator.org. Follow her on X @NicoleScuraa.
Nicole Scura is a third-year journalism student in her second semester at The Alligator. She is currently a sports enterprise reporter and previously served as a hockey reporter. In her free time, she enjoys figure skating, traveling and watching football (Go Bucs!).
