The Liberty Christian volleyball program is staying in the Ball family. 

Liberty Christian Academy’s Butch Clark recently confirmed the hire of Dakota Ball as Liberty Christian’s next head volleyball coach. Dakota Ball takes over for his father Bill Ball, who coached the Lady Eagles last season. Dakota Ball was an assistant coach on the volleyball and baseball teams last season. 

Originally from southern Illinois, Dakota Ball started attending Liberty Christian when he was about 12 years old. He graduated from Liberty Christian in 2020 and has since served as an assistant coach on various Liberty Christian teams. 

Although he does not have experience playing volleyball, Ball has many years of coaching experience. Ball’s sister graduated from Liberty Christian last year. 

“My sister played and I was always a part of helping her,” Ball said. “We were always practicing and stuff like that … I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve taken more of a liking to it in the past couple years than previously.”

Ball thinks his familiarity with the returning players will help in his transition from the assistant coach role to the head coach role. Not only did Ball coach the returning players last season, but some upperclassmen were students at Liberty Christian when Ball was still a student there. 

“A lot of the reason I decided to come back and continue coaching is the relationships I’ve developed with some of these players, especially some of the older ones,” Ball said. 

With several starters from last year’s team not returning to the team this season, Ball anticipates the Lady Eagles will need to change their approach. He referenced the loss of their top two hitters, who Ball thinks were the best hitters in their league last season. With a lessened offensive threat this season, Ball said the Lady Eagles will need to be fundamentally sound. 

Ball said their focus this season will be to both win games and also help their younger players develop.

“This year, we’re definitely going to be a competitive team,” Ball said. “But I only have as of right now, I believe I only have two seniors. So yes, we’re going to be competitive. We’re going to try to win. But we’re also trying to develop a younger core that two, three years from now that we can really be competitive and maybe be back to that offensive minded team.”

Ball plans to build off what the Lady Eagles had last season, while also hoping to get more focus in the gym for training and focusing on their physical abilities. 

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Ball said. “I’ve been a part of baseball. That’s what I was really good at. I enjoy coaching baseball. I enjoy helping with them. But volleyball has kind of become a new passion for me that I really enjoyed seeing how some of these girls grow and how they’re becoming volleyball players.”