Lily Hayes lunged across the court, stretching her fingers just in time to dig a ball that seemed destined to hit the floor. The U.S. Girls U19 National Team fought through every rally in a nail-biting five-set battle against Italy.
Considered the match’s underdogs, the Americans refused to back down. With Hayes anchoring the defense, they held on for a hard-earned victory, punching their ticket to the World Championship semifinals.
“We started off so strong, and we ended up winning,” Hayes said. “It was the greatest feeling ever.”
Hayes and the U.S. national team went on to win the silver medal at the 2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship.
Just months later, the 18-year-old Tampa native brings the same intensity and defensive skill to the Florida Gators. Standing 5 feet, 9 inches tall, Hayes commands attention as the Gators’ starting libero and defensive specialist.
In her first season with UF, Hayes became the first freshman to start in the libero jersey since Elyse Cusak in 2006. She’s proven herself to be a cornerstone of Florida’s defense during the first 13 matches of the season.
Hayes has tallied 177 digs in her first season playing collegiate volleyball, showcasing her consistency and tenacity in the back row. Her ability to read the game and extend rallies has made a measurable difference, with five service aces adding an unexpected offensive weapon.
“I feel like I’ve already stepped up a lot, but I want to keep working on my defense of my game and just being an all around well-rounded player,” she said. “I really would like to play pro one day.”
Hayes grew up in a competitive household and quickly learned what it meant to balance high expectations with joy for the game. Her mother, Nel Fettig Hayes, is a decorated professional soccer player who was a league all-star and WUSA champion with the Carolina Courage.
She credits her mother for showing her how to compete while reminding her athletics are just one part of the bigger picture of a fulfilling life.
“She’s just given me a good foundation,” Hayes said. “To know how to be an athlete but also how to be a person at the same time.”
That perspective helped guide her decision to come to Florida, where the culture and camaraderie of the team immediately stood out to her.
“When I came here, the girls felt like they all just really loved each other,” she said.
Adjusting from international competition to NCAA play has welcomed changes and challenges. Hayes said stepping onto campus meant a whole new routine. She said the toughest part was being away from family, who live in Tampa, while adapting to a new environment and the demands of being a student athlete.
Now, as SEC play begins, Hayes has found her groove. Florida head coach Ryan Theis said he’s been impressed with her performance this season.
“You barely would think she is a freshman from the first day,” he said. “Her effort, her physicality, her vocal presence. I never even think of her as a freshman.”
That presence is felt not just by coaches, but also by those who’ve shared the court with her since childhood. Sophomore libero and defensive specialist Bella Lee shares a special connection with Hayes. The two trained at the same gym as teenagers.
“Since we were 16, running around the same club gym and tournaments, she’s always just a light to be around,” Lee said. “There’s never really a dull moment when I’m with her.”
Hayes’ strength lies in her communication skills on the court, where she directs teammates and maintains group focus during fast-paced rallies.
“She has that competitive energy to her, so I think that motivates the team,” Lee said. “Everyone wants to match what her energy is in the back court.”
With a foundation in elite international experience and a family legacy of athletic excellence, Hayes is poised to continue making waves in SEC play and beyond.
Contact Isis Snow at isnow@alligator.org. Follow her on X @isis_snoww.
Isis is a junior sports journalism student and is the volleyball beat reporter for fall 2025. This is her third semester with The Alligator. She enjoys reading, playing basketball and weight lifting in her free time.
