Lily Hayes: USA’s Defensive Pillar

Lily Hayes plays volleyball with a noticeable confidence and intensity that sets her apart. Whether cushioning a difficult pass, digging a powerful spike, or diving to save a quick tip, Hayes has been a key performer for the USA squad at this World Championship. The 175cm libero is a master of floor defense, and her statistics support this!

Among the eight teams reaching the quarterfinals, Hayes ranks high among liberos in both passing (34) and digging (73), highlighting her vital contribution to the USA team. It`s fair to say she represents the solid foundation upon which Coach Robert Keegan Cook is building the team`s defense of their title.

“I always play with great passion because while I’m not the big hitter scoring points, I aim to be the strong defender who can stop opponent plays. Defense wins championships, and I’m glad to play this role behind the scenes. It’s incredibly rewarding and empowering just supporting my teammates and cheering them on,” Lily explained.

“I love making a good pass, but getting a dig, especially when there`s no block, is an amazing feeling… It’s truly unbelievable!” Hayes shared about what she finds most enjoyable on the court.

Despite her current success, growing up in Tampa, Florida, volleyball wasn`t Lily’s first passion. Her mother, Nel Fettig, was a professional football player, and Lily naturally began with football before transitioning to volleyball around the age of 9.

“It was inspiring to see my mom’s achievements in football, and I hope to follow a similar path in a different sport. I’m thankful I played two sports when I was younger, as it helped shape me into the athlete I am today.

“I chose volleyball because I simply fell in love with everything about it. Volleyball feels much more intense and connected compared to 90 minutes of football. The points are much more crucial, and every single touch you make matters just a bit more,” Lily stated.

Originally an outside hitter, Lily only switched to playing libero four years ago. She never imagined that she would be representing the USA as a regular player in a World Championship so quickly!

“This is my first experience, and I absolutely adore it… It’s a dream come true! Everything is more intense and at a higher standard, which pushes me to improve,” Hayes revealed.

“It’s definitely challenging because everything is different from club volleyball in the US. It’s a significant learning experience, and I’ve gained so much from this national team that I’ll carry with me forever, not just in volleyball but in life too,” she added.

Lily has been thrust into a demanding role at this World Championship. Competition rules allow teams only 12 players, meaning Lily has been responsible for both passing and digging duties as the sole libero for the USA.

“It has certainly been a mental test. Realizing I don’t have anyone else to rely on has helped me trust my abilities and feel confident in my performance. It’s an honor to handle both passing and digging for the team, and I believe things will only get better from here,” a smiling Lily commented.

Despite making her national team debut, the 18-year-old has exceeded expectations, helping guide the USA to the quarterfinals where they will face Italy, the European bronze medalists. Their journey to the quarterfinals has been both demanding and exhausting.

Among all the quarterfinalists, only the USA has played three five-set thrillers—against Poland, Bulgaria, and Germany. While they lost two matches to their Pool C opponents, Bulgaria and Poland, their most recent five-set battle ended in victory for the Americans, who narrowly defeated Germany 3-2 in the Round of 16 on Tuesday night.

“As defending champions, we fully understand that everyone wants to defeat us. We have to play at a higher level despite not having trained together as a team for very long. These tough matches have shown us what we need to do to win this World Championship,” observed Lily, the eldest of three siblings.

“We’ve only been playing together for about two weeks, and that’s what makes our team special. We are able to connect because we all have significant volleyball talent and make the most of it. It’s about building on that and aiming to bring another title back home,” she emphasized.

Looking ahead, Lily envisions a future playing professional volleyball, potentially in Italy, and representing the USA in major tournaments like the FIVB World Championships and Olympic Games.

But her immediate focus is on the near future. She recently accepted a scholarship to the University of Florida and is eager for her debut in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) league next season.

“Playing against the best in the world here in Osijek has been excellent preparation for what I will encounter in the NCAA, where I’ll be competing against even older players,” Lily noted.

What an impressive debut it would be if she first steps onto the court in her Gators jersey as a world champion!