Reese Axness

Position:
Setter
Height:
5-9
Class:
Sophomore
High School:
Champlin Park
Hometown:
Brooklyn Park, MN

Career Notes Entering 2026 Season:
• Played in 29 of a possible 31 matches over her Ball State career
• Has seen action in 103 of a possible 121 sets
• One of the 2025 MAC Setters of the Year, alongside 6-2 teammate Lindsey Green
• 2025 MAC All-Freshman Team
• Four-time member of the MAC Setter Pair of the Week, alongside 6-2 teammate Lindsey Green
• Helped the Ball State offense rank first in the MAC and 32nd among the 343 ranked NCAA Division I programs during the 2025 season with a .258 hitting percentage
• Dished out 20-or-more assists in eight matches
• Registered three career assist/dig double-doubles

2025 (Fr.): Earned first letter at Ball State ... one of the 2025 MAC Setters of the Year, alongside 6-2 teammate Lindsey Green ... MAC All-Freshman Team ... four-time member of the MAC Setter Pair of the Week, alongside 6-2 teammate Lindsey Green ... played in 29 of Ball State’s 31 matches, earning one start ... saw action in 103 of a possible 121 sets ... dished out 457 total assists, helping the Ball State offense rank first in the MAC and 32nd among the 343 ranked NCAA Division I programs with a .258 hitting percentage ... averaged 4.44 assists-per-set, with double-digit assists in 27 of her 29 outings ... collected 20-or-more assists in eight matches, paced by a career-high 27 in a thrilling 3-2 victory at Bowling Green (Oct. 16) ... also had 10 digs in the match for her third of three assist/dig double-doubles on the season ... boasted a career-high 18 digs in the sweep at Miami (Oct. 7), to go along with 15 assists, while adding 11 digs and 21 assists in the five-set victory over Toledo (Oct. 10) ... finished the season with 154 total digs for a 1.50 digs-per-set average ... served up 13 aces, including a career-high two on three occasions ... smashed her first career kill versus Cincinnati (Sept. 18).

KELLI MILLER PHILLIPS ON AXNESS:
“Reese has played a ton of high-level volleyball, and that experience, toughness and leadership will directly impact her ability to compete to set in our offense immediately. She has a great release, serves tough, a high volleyball IQ and competes really hard. I’m excited for her to get to campus this spring and start working right away.”

PREP CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
A four-year letterwinner at Champlin Park High School for coach John Yunker … Earned all-state honors as a junior and senior, while earning All-Northwest Suburban Conference First Team honors in each of her final three seasons … named Star Tribune First Team All-Metro as a senior, after earning second team honors as a junior … team captain as a junior and senior … helped guide the Rebels to a Minnesota Class 5AAAA state runner-up finish and a Class 5AAAA sectional title her senior season, as well as a 30-4 overall record … entered the quarterfinals of the 2024 state championships with 3253 career assists, 162 career aces and 865 career digs … also helped guide Champlin Park to sectional runner-up finishes in each of her first three seasons … a varsity letterwinner in track and field for the Rebels as a freshman … a member of the National Honor Society.

CLUB HIGHLIGHTS:
Played club volleyball for the Northern Lights from the Fall of 2022 through the Spring of 2024 … helped guide her club program to a third-place finish at the 17-Open AAU Nationals and a fifth-place finish at the 16-Open GJVA Nationals.

WHY BALL STATE:
“I chose Ball State because of the people and the culture. When I came to visit everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Ball State volleyball has created a winning culture, and it is something I wanted to be a part of.”