Oct. 4, 2002
It's no secret what most people notice the first time they meet Missouri redshirt freshman Lindsey Noll. At 6-5, she is the tallest player ever to take the court at Missouri and that usually what most people who first meet her want to talk about.
Of course, there is much more to Noll than just her height. She was a two-time all-region and all-metro selection at Parkway West High School in St. Louis. She was also named a FOX Sports Show and St. Louis Post-Dispatch Athlete of the Week during her senior season.
Although she lived in St. Louis, she originally did not plan on coming to Missouri. She first considered several other schools including Arkansas, Kansas, Auburn and St. Louis University.
However, after a visit to Columbia, Mizzou quickly became her top choice.
"I met the coaches and thought they were just amazing," Noll said. "They were awesome people. Also I got a chance to see that facilities and saw that they were great. Then when I came on my official visit, I got to meet the girls. I literally felt like they wanted me to be on the team. Immediately I was like, 'where do I sign? I'm ready.'"
She arrived at Missouri last year and, after talking with the coaching staff, it was decided that she would redshirt her freshman year.
"I think it was one of the best choices I've ever made in my life," Noll said. "Once I decided to do it, I realized how good it was to do. Not only did it give me a whole year to get better at playing volleyball, but it also gave me a year to get stronger by lifting weights and conditioning. I think it was a huge advantage."
Noll has shown so far this season, that her redshirt year has paid off. Noll is averaging 2.60 kills per season and has a hitting percentage of .290. She had a career-high 17 kills against Oregon State and a career-high hitting percentage of .600 in MU's victory over Eastern Illinois.
One of her career goals is to be a volleyball coach and continue to be involved in the sport of volleyball.
"My coach in club volleyball was an amazing coach and I have the utmost respect for him. I see what he's done for all the girls that have played on his club team and I would love to be able to have that kind of influence on girls in the future."
Coaching may be in Noll's future, but when it comes to the present, her focus is on continuing to build on the success of the Tiger volleyball program. Noll has started six matches for Mizzou this season and has seen her playing time rise as the season has gone on.
"You don't have an easy game," she said. "Every time you go out there it's a battle and you have to fight for every point."
Many young players would find it challenging being in a battle every night out, but Noll has not let that get to her.
"I don't really feel a lot of pressure," Noll said. "I just try to go out every game and play as hard as I can and not worry about being a freshman, or this being my first year playing. I just try to go out there and play my game."
Her game has helped the Tigers get off to a 13-1 start this season and has given people something else to talk about besides just her height.