Montana State University Billings Athletics

Feature Story: One step at a time: Yellowjackets' Axel fueled by adventure

Lisa Axel returns for her fourth year as the head volleyball coach at Montana State University Billings. In her first three seasons as a collegiate head coach, she has guided the Yellowjackets to a 31-49 record. Last season, Axel and MSU Billings finished fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with an overall record of 13-14. 

During her tenure as a head coach, the Yellowjackets have had 12 student-athletes honored as All-GNAC Academic selections and three student-athletes have been named as All-GNAC first team members.

In 2012, Axel was named the 13th head volleyball coach at MSUB. Axel came to MSUB after spending six seasons as the top assistant at Metro State where she led the Roadrunners to six NCAA Division II tournament appearances, including six NCAA tournament wins. 

During her tenure, she served as the team’s recruiting coordinator and also oversaw student-athlete academics. In 2010 Axel was a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 Award. The Roadrunners were 130-57 (.695) during her six seasons at Metro State.

Prior to her time at Metro State, Axel spent two seasons as the first assistant coach at Division I North Dakota State University and also served as the interim head coach of the Bison from January-May of 2006. As the first assistant, she served as the recruiting coordinator, coordinated the scouting of opponents, and planned travel arrangements.

A native of Buffalo, Minn., Axel was a four-year starter the University of Minnesota, where she led the Golden Gophers to the school’s first and only Big Ten championship in 2002, her senior year. She participated in four NCAA Division I tournaments which included making three Sweet 16 appearances.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Minnesota in biology and was a three-time academic all-Big Ten selection (2000-02). She was also an Intercollegiate Athletic Scholar all four years of her collegiate career.

In high school, Axel was named Ms. Minnesota Volleyball in 1998 and was named the Gatorade Circle of Champions Minnesota High School Volleyball Player of the Year that same year. She was a three-time all-state selection (1996-98), a five-time all-conference selection (1994-98) and was a two-time conference player of the year her junior and senior seasons (1997-98).