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Former Troy Trojan Cheyenne Hayes is just in her second year as an assistant coach at Enterprise State Community College and she’s helped lead the Weevils to their first NJCAA National Championship Tournament.

Hayes, a Newnan, Ga., native, is one of the most decorated players in Troy Volleyball history. She helped lead Troy on the court to two appearances in the NIVC Tournament in 2019 and 2021, the first Trojan squads to make it past the Sun Belt Tournament in postseason play.

“It was a little bitter-sweet because we lost that last game but it was nice to be able to close out my last season at Troy at home in Trojan Arena,” Hayes recalled. “That’s always great, there’s no place like Trojan Arena.”
Hayes finished her college career as Troy’s career leader in both kills and points. Just this last week, however, current Trojan Tori Hester broke Hayes’ career kills and points record.

“I got to play with Tori for two years at Troy and I’m so happy for her,” Hayes said. “She’s an incredible player and an amazing person. She is so deserving of everything and I’m proud of everything she has accomplished at Troy.”

Hayes was also a three-time All-Sun Belt selection at Troy and along with her other records she finished her career with the single match record of kills in a four-set match, the second most service aces in a three-set match, the fourth most kills in a season, most career attack attempts, sixth most career service aces and she played the most matches in Troy history. She’s also just one of six players in school history to surpass 1,000 career kills and digs. Hayes wrapped up her collegiate career with 1,671 kills, 157 service aces, 88 assists, 1,196 digs and 131 blocks. During her playing days, Hayes said she never thought she would join the coaching ranks.

“I feel like throughout my time at Troy I always told myself I didn’t really know if I wanted to get into coaching,” she remembered. “It just kind of fell into my lap and I took it and ran with it.”

After graduating from Troy, Hayes was invited to help coach at Deep South Volleyball in Enterprise, a private volleyball instruction academy for high school students. It was there that a Troy connection led her into coaching further. Deep South Volleyball is owned by former Troy Trojan Janie Wiggins – the winningest head coach in Enterprise High School history – and the current Enterprise State Community College head coach Vanessa Howell also coached at Deep South Volleyball. Howell had previously served as a graduate assistant at Troy, as well.

“I got to know Coach Vanessa Howell there, she also coached at Deep South, and she had just been hired at ESCC,” said Hayes. “That’s how I got in. This is our third year of having a program and I’ve been there for two years. I really enjoy it. There are ups and downs, like everything, but it’s always fun to be able to pour into the girls and be on the other side of things.

“When you’re playing, you don’t really get to see the coaching side of things. So, being able to pour my love back into these young adults has been really great.”

In just its third year of existence, ESCC not only won a conference championship but also earned the NJCAA South District Championship this past weekend, propelling them into the NJCAA National Championship Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, later this month.

“It’s been a wild ride for sure,” said Hayes. “During the season we wanted to make sure that our girls were very mentally prepared. So, we took them on a trip to Rockford, Ill., for an opening weekend tournament. We played some really tough competition up there and we felt like that would prepare us for the rest of the season.

“Throughout the season, no matter happened, we felt like we were prepared for it. That definitely shined through during conference play and the postseason so far. I have no doubt it will continue to shine. To be able to be resilient and gritty has been so great and our girls are very determined and excited.”

Hayes and the ESCC Boll Weevils will play in the NJCAA National Championships in Iowa beginning Nov. 20.