The talent was there. And she had every reason to think she would be able to earn a spot with one of the nearby powerhouse private school programs in girls volleyball.
But Neve Hayes had a different vision when she decided Evergreen Park was going to be her place to play.
“I just knew that coming here I could make a difference in the program,” Hayes said. “I knew I had a chance to become a leader on the team that I might not get at those other schools.”
And she wasn’t thinking just about herself.
“I knew staying in the program might help convince other people to want to come to EP,” Hayes said. “I feel like a lot of people on the South Side go to the Catholic schools, but I wanted to make a difference here.”
She has — and then some.
Already a two-time all-conference player, Hayes is having a fine junior season, helping the Mustangs (13-4, 6-1) contend for a conference title in the South Suburban Red.
So far this fall, Hayes has 283 assists, 63 kills, 33 aces and 96 digs. And this week, Hayes will likely reach her biggest milestone to date. She’s only 33 assists away from 1,000 for her career.
“I’m really excited,” Hayes said. “To be honest, I had no clue that I was that close. It really caught me by surprise. I guess it just shows that there has been improvement.
“You can do anything to reach goals and milestones. I don’t know. It’s crazy to me, but it shows that I’ve worked for it.”
Junior outside hitter Fiona Buchanan has pretty much seen it all.
“Neve’s been my setter since fourth grade,” Buchanan said. “I feel like our connection is better than any other setter I’ve played with. She’s so good at knowing her players.”
Twin sister Bridget Hayes is a favorite target in the middle.
“Sometimes (at home) we get along and sometimes we don’t,” Bridget said, smiling. “But we think the same in volleyball. She just really wants to win and she’s really into the game.
“And she wants everyone else to do well. She’s always cheering them on.”
To say Neve Hayes has come a long way is an understatement. She laughed when telling the story of her first feelings toward volleyball.
“Honestly, I didn’t even like volleyball when I started playing,” Hayes said. “I came to the EP camps as a fifth grader and I thought it was the stupidest sport ever. I never thought that I would ever play it.”
Her childhood best friend, Marist junior Mollie Berry, helped change her mind.
“At the little grade school camps, her mom was the coach and helping out,” Hayes said. “Mollie and I did everything together. Whatever she did, I did. And when we started playing club together, I started to love it.”
Hayes and Berry continue to be club teammates and close friends, but they went their separate ways when choosing high schools. Hayes made the varsity at Evergreen Park as a freshman and played a significant role.
Significant enough that when the Mustangs played Shepard that season, Astros coach Brian Zofkie noticed.
“We played against them twice and she was unbelievable,” Zofkie said. “She reminded me of Autumn Molenhouse, who played four years for us at Shepard.
“Neve looked like the same kid — one who could run a program for four years.”
Years earlier, Zofkie was an assistant coach for the Mustangs. He left Shepard after the 2022 season to return as Evergreen Park’s head coach.
He knew the leadership was there.
“When the possibility came about to go back, I was like, ‘Wow, the setter position is the toughest position, and that piece is in place,’” Zofkie said. “I still don’t even know if Neve really realizes how good she is.
“Every coach we play who sees her says, ‘Holy cow, we’d love to have your setter.’ I say, ‘I’m sure you would.’”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
