GOLD COAST, Queensland --- As Biola Women's Basketball continues to build its program for perennial success come playoff time, the Eagles' checklist for evaluating new student-athletes has expanded to include an eagerness to contribute in big moments. 

A team-first character, superior athleticism and a strong skill set for the game are still foundational values for Head Coach Alan Nakamura's team. But the team is also looking for players like Olivia Dijkstra, who embody the Eagles' core values while also demonstrating an ability to thrive in the attention that elite-level basketball brings. 

A 6-6 center who spent her childhood years in Christchurch, New Zealand, Dijkstra has been a sought-after player in two sports since she moved to Queensland, Australia. She earned a scholarship spot on the Hillcrest Christian College basketball team and was coached by FIBA Hall of Fame member Pero Cameron while also becoming an accomplished netball player: Dijkstra represented Queensland at the state level in National Netball Championships and was selected to an Elite Development Squad by Netball Queensland.

"We are very excited to have Olivia join our Biola Basketball family," said Coach Nakamura. "We have a wonderful group of young ladies on this team;  they are humble, intelligent, coachable, have team-first attitudes, and want to be great. With her focus, we believe Olivia will enhance our team culture. And with her abilities and work ethic, the sky's the limit for Olivia!"

After joining Hillcrest Christian, Dijkstra competed at the basketball high school nationals for three-straight years and helped the Knights to their first Queensland State Championship in 2019. 

She was also among the 10 players selected to represent Queensland at the 2019 U20 National Championships as a result of additional accomplishments with the North Gold Coast Seahawks basketball club and her dedication to the Basketball Queensland State Development Program. 

That excellent track record gave Dijkstra a plethora of options as she looked to collegiate basketball programs in America. But Biola Women's Basketball stood out because the particular way the Eagles emphasize their "family" team value as they compete and support each other: 

"I chose Biola over the many other colleges that were pursuing me because Coach Alan has a very good coaching record and reputation and I loved the idea of the family feeling and culture that he has presented to me," said Dijkstra. "I also found Coach Ciara Iglehart and Coach Alan to be most welcoming and felt very comfortable with them from the get-go. I look forward to being part of a quality, winning women's basketball team and to having great options for my studies."

Dijkstra will enter Biola as a freshman business major this fall and joins an Eagles team that is poised to make a great run at the PacWest tournament for the second-straight season. More information on the incoming 2020-21 class that will join Dijkstra at Biola can be found on the Committed Athletes page.