DES MOINES, Iowa – Former University of Pittsburgh standout Hali Hillegas joins the Drake University volleyball staff as the new assistant coach, head coach Darrin McBroom announced on Thursday March 31.
 
McBroom said, "We are very excited to welcome Hali into our program.  I think she will be a great fit and just what we need moving forward.  I am impressed with the experience that she has had as an athlete and as a coach.  Striving to move our program forward, I think Hali's court and team experience gives her the tools to push our players to compete and commit to a higher level of play, just as she has done throughout her career."
 
A 2019 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Hillegas was a second-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference libero in 2019. The Panthers captured the 2019 ACC crown with an 18-0 mark and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Divison I Championships

Hillegas led the team with 4.26 digs per set in her only season, which ranked second in the ACC, racking up 26 digs in a match with Louisville. She was one of three players to compete in all 111 sets in 2019.

Prior to transferring to Pittsburgh, Hillegas spent the first four years of her college career at Iowa State University, where she gained AVCA honorable mention all-American honors in 2017. She also was named the league's libero of the year while earning first-team all-Big 12 recognition. She was a seven-time Big 12 defensive player of the week.

Hillegas joins the Bulldogs after two seasons at Central College in Pella, Iowa. In her time with the Dutch, she helped lead them to a .500 winning percentage, in addition to coaching three all-conference and two honorable mention athletes.