“We’re sisters,” said Noe. “There’s basically no other way to describe it.”
Argabright agrees.
“There are times where we fight and nag each other, but on the flip side we can always turn to each other for support.”
That kind of relationship isn’t surprising considering the two grew up just down the street from each other in Louisville, and have been teammates on the volleyball court since they were 13 years old. That bond continued to grow through their time at Sacred Heart Academy, where they both helped lead the Valkyries to the 2003 state championship.
Despite their success together on the court, neither Noe or Argabright — or Lady Topper head coach Travis Hudson — envisioned the duo continuing their careers on the same collegiate court.
“You might think that because they knew each other, that playing together in college was not something Megan and Julia set out to do in the recruiting process,” said Hudson, who first worked with the pair while teaching at an elite summer camp in Louisville when they were in the fifth grade. “I never envisioned that we would end up with both of them, but as things developed in recruiting, it became more and more clear that coming to WKU was the best fit for both.”
While that recruiting work became the Lady Toppers’ gain, the program would have to wait a full year to witness the chemistry on the court. Noe spent their freshman season in 2005 playing behind All-American setter Caron Blotch, while Argabright immediately began cementing her legacy as one of the best ever to put on a WKU uniform. And, while it took some time for Argabright to adjust to a new setter, the year proved beneficial for both players.
“Julia is one of the best defensive players we have now because she was able to work in the back row during her freshman season,” said Hudson. “As talented as Megan was coming in, being able to play with such an experienced team and a senior setter did nothing but help jumpstart her amazing career. I think that year apart helped them to appreciate each other from a different viewpoint.”
That work in the back row recently etched Noe’s name into the WKU record book as she posted her third triple-double of the season last Friday against Troy — becoming the first player in Lady Topper history to accomplish the feat three times in a season or career.
Even though they weren’t on the court in the same capacity as before, it wasn’t as if both Noe and Argabright weren’t keeping that chemistry sharp in other ways.
“I was able to sit back and see some things that Caron was doing that first year that have definitely helped me the past two seasons,” said Noe. “Just being able to watch our hitters from a different prospective let me see how they work and the best way to set up our offense.”
“I’ve never had to say anything to Julia in all our years playing together, because we just have that feel and connection with each other on the court,” added Argabright. “I’m sure there were times that first year that Julia was sitting on the sideline saying ‘don’t set her up like that, she doesn’t do that.’ But I think it helped us both, and once Julia stepped in there our sophomore season, things were back to normal.”
Since becoming WKU’s starting setter in 2006, Noe has recorded 2,759 of her 2,779 career assists — the fifth-best all-time total in school history. And nearly a third of those assists have come on sets to Argabright. While the talent of both ladies has a great deal to do with that success, there is to be something said for the unspoken bond.
“There are times when I’m chasing down a ball, and I know that I can just throw it up there and Megan will crush it,” said Noe. “That sense that we have for each other is just there.”
And, for Argabright, it’s a comfort level that any great player loves to have with a teammate.
“The tough thing with setters is that you have to get to know their feel, and be on the same page with them on the court, and Julia and I already had that connection from playing together so long,” said Argabright. “Julia’s done a great job running our offense, and I’m just glad that I was one step ahead from the beginning in my communication and comfort with her.”
At the same time, Argabright — a two-time All-American and the reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year — has already moved into fourth on the WKU career kills list with 1,450, and will be poised to end her career as the school’s all-time leader in that category. She already sits atop the career hitting percentage list at .384.
“When you take a step back and look at what she’s doing, you realize that you aren’t going to coach many Megan Argabright’s in your career,” said Hudson. “Her career is going to be unmatched when it is all said and done, but the numbers don’t tell the story for her. The thing that has been the most fun for me to watch is the way she has grown and matured as a person during her time here.”
Noe agrees.
“Megan has matured a lot. She’s a really honest person who isn’t afraid to let you know her feelings — both good and bad. She doesn’t hold anything back, which I really think is a good quality.”
Those feelings are not one-sided as Argabright has also been able to watch the growth of her longtime friend over the past three years.
“Julia is such an intelligent person who knows what she wants in life,” said Argabright. “I still see us sometimes as those kids growing up, but she has really set goals for herself and that makes me really excited for her.”
In three years as Lady Toppers, they have helped the program win 82 matches and a pair of Sun Belt Conference East Division championships, and they played in the NCAA Tournament as freshmen. However, if you ask their coach, it’s the progress they’ve made off the court that will have the longest-lasting impact.
“When those two kids came here, I told them that by the time they left they would be in each other’s weddings and be best friends, recalled Hudson. “Now here they are in their junior year as roommates, and they’re more like sisters than they have ever been. It’s been a pretty rewarding process on a non-volleyball level for me to see how far they have come over three years.”
