West Noble Girls’ Volleyball had a dominant week on the hardwood as the Lady Chargers-coming off a 25-8 campaign a season ago-defeated two of the better programs in the area in Northridge and Angola to enter this week with an impressive 10-1 record and 3-0 in NECC play. According to MaxPreps, West Noble enters this week’s slate of competition ranked 3rd in Class 3A and 15th in the entire state.
Head Coach Allison Mead-a 1998 West Noble-is entering her second season as their head coach who has spent some time as an assistant coach from 2015-19. As a player, she played collegiately at NC State out of the ACC where she recorded 471 career blocks (2nd all-time at NC State) and 1,208 career kills. Her staff consists of some familiar faces for West Noble fans.
Kristina Teel-a 2020 West Noble grad-was one of the state’s best setters in her time as she recorded 2,751 career assists. 2017 West Noble grad-Kaylie Warble-was a dominant 3-sport athlete playing volleyball, basketball, and softball before continuing her basketball career at Grace College. These group of coaches understood where West Noble was 6-7 years ago when the Chargers achieved some of the most successful teams in program history.
Now building off of the momentum from last year, Mead said she knew this team had what it takes to achieve great things in 2025.
“Last season, we had 6 freshmen and sophomores in our consistent rotations and a few upper classmen,” said Mead. “We had players with individual skills but had to learn how to gel as a team and how to win. We had success but fell short on several occasions due to lack of confidence as a team. Fast forward a year (later), we have grown in skill and maturity.”
That maturity has accumulated great success so far this season, led by her daughter Elyse Mead who has 174 kills, hitting .258, 15 aces, and 113 digs as a sophomore. Behind Mead on offense has been a combination of juniors Izzy Beers and Reagan Eash, and sophomore Ava DeLong. The back row consists of junior libero Darcy Ritchie, sophomore Addyson Burns, and their two sophomore setters: Ella Limerick and Kailyn Slone.
Coming into that week, Mead knew the Chargers had an opportunity to win both matches if they could get their hitters involved and mix up the offense, particularly with their two-setter offense.
It didn’t start off too well early on as Northridge took the first set, but the Chargers responded nicely by winning the next three to take that one in four competitive sets. West Noble hit .168, but recorded 10 service aces, 44 assists, and a whopping 84 digs against NLC contender Northridge. Mead said the Raiders are a team full of “strong hitters on the pins”, but they were successful in containing their attack.
That match was crucial to get the Lady Chargers prepared for the anticipated Angola contest, last Thursday. All eyes were set on that Angola game in Ligonier. The Hornets came into that matchup winners of their last 42 NECC conference matches dating back to the 2020 season, and 64 straight overall against NECC foes. Angola-coming off a trip to the 3A state finals a year ago-still had their dynamic outside hitter and Illinois commit Maya Harris who currently averages 6 kills and 2.4 aces per set alone.
It was a tall task for a West Noble team that failed to beat Angola since repeating as NECC Tournament champions eight years ago. West Noble-knowing what was at stake-took full advantage of the opportunity at hand holding Angola to just a .140 hitting percentage and committed 18 attack errors. As for the Chargers, they hit a season-best .322 and recorded an impressive 50 digs against an Angola squad that has become one of the top dogs in Class 3A over the last seven years.
To put it this way, West Noble won 6 of the last 7 sets against two quality opponents with a combined record of 16-4. That shows how much the program has grown from its period of rebuilding seasons.
Mead explained that the team took care of the concepts and things that they were able to control and did not let good hitters get to them mentally. To say West Noble has something special cooking in Ligonier would be an understatement.
“Our girls played with heart and confidence,” said Mead on West Noble’s success last week. “They have really come together as a team, working together and supporting each other. We have some great leaders. They are a special group for sure.”
Now, they take their upheld confidence and experience to a crucial week of NECC Volleyball. This week they will face two conference rivals with a combined 15-9 record in 7-6 Lakeland and 8-3 Garrett.
Garrett-in particular-is currently 4-0 in NECC play and have a talented group young players led by freshmen Piper Ice and Kaylee Garr. Experience has also played a role with returnees Sarah DePew (Senior), Rilyn Flotow (Junior), and the addition of the Lakewood Park transfer Amelia Kesterke (Junior)-a versatile right side hitter that can play setter.
Conference play is heating up across the state of Indiana, and it is no different with the NECC. Interestingly, the NECC schedules its back half of the conference schedule towards the end of the regular season. Once the conference slate concludes, they host a one-day event on the last Saturday before the state tournament where all 11 NECC members compete for the annual conference tournament championship-a unique way to get teams ready for the grind postseason play.
Coach Mead and the Chargers welcome the challenge they will face in their NECC schedule with the continued mindset of team growth and preparation for every game, regardless of the opponent.