Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Metro State assistant coach Lisa Axel as been hired as the new head volleyball coach at Montana State University Billings.

“Coach Axel brings a wealth of experience from one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the country," MSUB athletic director Dr. Gary Gray said.

"She played at a very high level and has learned from some of the best mentors in intercollegiate volleyball. She is a strong proponent of Division II and has recruited well in our geographical region.

"I am very confident she will advance our volleyball program in the GNAC and the West Region.”

Axel spent the last six seasons as the top assistant at Metro State where she helped lead 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 and in 2010 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.

Prior to her time at Metro State, Axel spent two seasons as the first assistant coach at Division I institution North Dakota State and also served as the interim head coach of the Bison from January 2006 until May of that same year.

As the first assistant, she served as the recruiting coordinator as well as coordinated the scouting of opponents and planning travel arrangements.

A native of Buffalo, Minn., Axel played four seasons at the University of Minnesota, where she led the Golden Gophers to the school's first and only Big Ten championship in 2002 as the starting libero her senior year.

She participated in four NCAA Division I tournaments which included making three Sweet 16 appearances.

She received her Bachelor of Sciences degree from Minnesota in Biology and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2000-02).

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.

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).

Axel replaces Steve Smith who had a record of 33-50 in three seasons at MSUB.