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Ex-Central volleyball star Hester to coach Augie

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By Craig DeVrieze | Thursday, March 20, 2008 |

One of the most accomplished volleyball players in Quad-City history would like to keep more Quad-City volleyballers close to home.

Janelle Hester, a former Davenport Central standout who went on to become a two-time All-Southeastern Conference second-team selection at the University of Tennessee, has been named head volleyball coach at Augustana College.

“It’s kind of a dream job, to be working in the area at Augustana,” Hester said.

Hester, who played professionally in Europe, has been a graduate assistant the past three years at St. Ambrose University, where she is completing work toward a Masters degree in social work.

Hester also has coached off-season club teams in the Quad-Cities, something she will continue to do.

She said her awareness of local  volleyball talent through her club-team associations should help in her recruiting efforts for the Vikings.

“Within this community, there is so much volleyball going on, but girls are looking outside the area to continue playing,” she said. “Hopefully, I can keep some of that excellent talent in the area.”

Hester was a three-time all-state selection at Central and was the Mississippi Athletic Conference player of the year as a senior. She moved on to Tennessee to continue her career and after college was among 32 players invited to a pre-Olympic tryout in Colorado Springs.

She spent a year playing professionally for the Nova KBM Branik club in Maribor, Slovenia.

Hester said she might eventually be interested in coaching at the Division I level, but not anytime soon.

“I am going to stay focused on Augustana and see what I can do here,” she said.

Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevrieze@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

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