Former Yellow Jacket Neargarder ('17) named head coach at Northland

ASHLAND, Wis. -- Former Defiance College volleyball player and 2017 graduate Hope Heargarder has been tabbed the new head volleyball coach at Division III Northland College in northern Wisconsin.

Neargarder was a four-year contributor on DC's volleyball squad under head coach Brie Brenner from 2013-2016. Neargarder was a freshman and sophomore when the Yellow Jackets claimed back-to-back Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships in 2013 and 2014. Neargarder played in every match of the 2014 and 2015 campaigns and was one of the top attackers and blockers on the team during her time at DC. She completed her degree in athletic training in 2017 before moving on to Miami University for graduate work. She was also a graduate assistant with the Redhawks for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

The Union City, Ohio native has been an assistant coach at two other D-III institutions before taking over the top role at Northland. Neargarder spent two years at Wilmington College and the previous two seasons with Illinois College.

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