OKLAHOMA CITY – OCU has selected Nikki Dieball as its new volleyball coach.
Dieball becomes the second coach for OCU since the program restarted in 2006. She joins the Stars after serving as Mid-America Christian coach the past two years.
OCU went 134-60 in five years under Jen Gomez, who left to become coach at Colorado State-Pueblo. Last season, the Stars went 23-14 with the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament title, a win in an NAIA Championship Opening-Round match, a top-25 ranking and a berth in the NAIA Championships.
“We are happy to have Nikki Dieball as a member of our team,” OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. “Nikki’s understanding of the game, familiarity with our program and commitment to academics made her a perfect fit for us. Our program took a significant step this year in qualifying for our first ever national tournament. We believe that Nikki can keep this momentum going.”
Dieball directed Mid-America Christian to a third-place finish in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association Central Regional last season after a runner-up finish the previous year. Outside hitter-middle blocker Cris Smith became an honorable-mention NAIA all-American, NCCAA all-region selection, NAIA scholar-athlete and first-team all-Sooner Athletic Conference performer last season.
The Stars lost only three-time all-American Xiaoting Ma from last year’s team.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to coach at Oklahoma City,” Dieball said. “I have been given an extremely talented team and am looking forward to continuing its legacy of success. My expectations are high for this team, and I am excited to get to work with such a talented group of players.”
Prior to Mid-America, Dieball served as interim coach of St. Gregory’s. Dieball also spent two years as graduate assistant at Central Oklahoma. She has been coaching Oklahoma’s Peak Performance team these past two years. Dieball also coaches club volleyball.
As a student-athlete, Dieball played on three national championship teams. Dieball played basketball and volleyball for Mid-America Christian as a freshman, aiding Mid-America to the 2001 NCCAA Division II volleyball championship. Then Dieball joined Southern Nazarene’s basketball and volleyball teams, playing on Southern Nazarene’s 2003 and 2004 NAIA women’s basketball title teams. She became an all-SAC pick as a senior and a three-time academic all-SAC selection.
From Mustang, Okla., Dieball (nee’ Floyd) became an all-state volleyball player and Indian all-state in basketball.
Dieball earned her degree in psychology from Southern Nazarene. She is married (Jonathan).
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