Mount Mercy University Volleyball Camps

Coaching Staff

Deb Marlin
Assistant Head Coach

Certified SoloSpike Instructor
Fourth year at Mount Mercy

Marlin has been involved in volleyball at the high school, college, and club levels for most of the past 20 years. She played volleyball for Morningside, where she ranks third in career assists and third in assists per game.

Marlin served as head volleyball coach at Kirkwood Community College when they finished fourth at the NJCAA Division II national volleyball tournament. She is also an invited clinician for many area summer camps.

While her primary focus is the setters, Marlin works with all players on improving their game and court awareness.

Nicki O'Keefe
Assistant Coach/Head Junior Varsity Coach

Certified SoloSpike Instructor
Fifth year at Mount Mercy

O'Keefe was a three-year letterwinner in volleyball and four-year letterwinner in soccer at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School. She was a member of the 1996 J-Hawk squad that was runner-up at the Class 3A state volleyball tournament. O'Keefe played volleyball for two years and was a student assistant coach for two years at Coe. She has also coached freshman volleyball at Iowa City West High School, served as an assistant coach for the Prairie Volleyball Club, coaches the Rapid Spikers Volleyball Club, and is finishing her CAP certification for club volleyball.

Krista Johnson
Assistant Coach

Certified SoloSpike Instructor
Third year at Mount Mercy

Johnson was a four-year volleyball letterwinner at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School and helped lead the J-Hawks to a 23-9-2 record and the state tournament her senior year. She earned all-Metro honors and all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors as well that season. Johnson also lettered in track, earning all-Metro honors in track as a sophomore, junior, and senior.

Johnson attended Missouri, where she was a powerful force in the middle. She ranked second on the squad in total blocks (98) and hitting percentage (.334), finished ninth in the Big 12 in hitting percentage, and had a career night against Texas Tech with 16 kills on 34 attacks and six blocks assists, all of which are career highs. Possibly the most athletic Tiger, Johnson recorded six matches with a .500 hitting percentage or higher her junior year.

Johnson continues to be actively involved in playing volleyball indoors and in the sand. She has coached club with the Rapid Spikers and last year coached with the Pride. Her primary responsibility at Mount Mercy is coaching the front row players in their hitting and defensive techniques.