Jillian Hadder '11, a native of Yucaipa, Calif., was named an assistant coach with the UMass Lowell volleyball team, Head Coach Karen McNulty announced Tuesday.

Hadder, who spent the last two years as a player/coach in Denmark, rejoins a River Hawk squad which enters its first season in NCAA Division I and the America East Conference.

UMass Lowell, which returns seven players from the 2012 squad which went 11-14 last year, opens the season Friday at home against Manhattan College (7:00) and Saturday against Sacred Heart (1:00).

"Having Jillian join our staff undoubtedly is a turning point in our program," said McNulty, entering her 20^th year. "Foremost, our student-athletes and potential recruits will benefit from being able to relate to someone who has experienced life here at UMass Lowell as a student-athlete:  the demands and pressures, the challenges and rewards, and the potential to achieve success both during and after one's collegiate career."

Hadder returns to her alma mater after serving as a player/coach at the Lyngby Volleyball Club in Lyngby, Denmark (2011-12), then Fortuna Odense (2012-13) before returning to the U.S. to pursue coaching.

She helped lead Lyngby to fourth place in the Danish Elite League and went on to key Fortuna Odense to a third place finish and a bronze medal.

Prior to arriving at the University this summer, Hadder spent two weeks as a counselor at Stanford University's volleyball camps.

One of four UMass Lowell players to amass 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs, Hadder enjoyed a stellar career at UMass Lowell which saw her compile 1,251 kills and 1,039 digs. Over the course of her career, she helped lead the River Hawks to a 37-22 clip her junior and senior years, including the 2009 Northeast-10 Conference Championship.

As a senior, Hadder was named to the NE-10 All-Conference Second Team as she was among conference leaders with 2.79 kills and 2.07 digs. She also earned a handful of academic honors, including a spot on the ESPN District 1 All-Academic Third Team and five appearances on the NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Hadder graduated cum laude in 2011 with a degree in psychology. She currently resides in Lowell, Mass.