Volleyball fans in Wisconsin have known Allie Barber’s name for years.

The Cedarburg High School alumna came to Marquette as PrepVolleyball’s No. 45 class of 2016 recruit and was named a 2015 first team All-State selection after posting a career-best hitting percentage (.506) and kills (542) as a senior. In her four seasons on varsity, she collected 911 kills, 288 blocks, 154 digs and 92 aces.

But her legacy in Wisconsin didn’t end with her time as a Bulldog. It continued when former Marquette women’s volleyball head coach Ryan Theis recruited her in 2016.

After four years as a Golden Eagle, she graduated in 2020 just as decorated as she was in high school, becoming Marquette’s all-time kills leader (1,871) and fourth in hitting percentage (.324), making her part of the 2026 ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame class.  

The outside hitter’s record night happened in a four-set win against Georgetown back in 2019. Barber totaled a match-high 22 kills and achieved the all-time most kills, which was previously set by 2005 graduate Theresa Coughlin.

“It was just a really exciting moment,” Barber said after breaking the record. “My teammates were obviously all here cheering for me, and we knew leading up to this week I was one kill away. It was just really special moment that I got to share with my teammates.”

The Marquette Wire was unable to set up an interview with Barber.

Barber’s contributions helped spur her senior class to 101 wins, tied for the winningest class in program history.

“[The seniors] really stepped into leadership roles at the end of their freshman year, believe it or not,” Theis said back in 2020. “After their first semester, they started leading the way and I think they’ve been hugely responsible for all the success that we’ve had.”

In her four seasons, Barber led the team to four straight NCAA tournament berths, including the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance in 2018. In the 2019 tournament, she was one of four players who averaged at least 4.66 kills per set.

She was a three-time AVCA All-American, the AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year in 2018, a four-time All- Big East first team selection, Big East co-freshman of the year in 2017 and the unanimous 2019 Big East player of the year.

Away from the court, Barber dedicated time at Marquette to serve the community and others, traveling to Costa Rica in 2018 for an international service trip where she built multi-purpose sports courts for young athletes.

After graduating from Marquette, she decided to take a gap year and not pursue a professional volleyball career. Instead, she focused on her passion for helping others and applied to the Medical College of Wisconsin, graduating in 2025.

Although she chose a different path, what Marquette gave her meant so much more than just playing the sport.

“It’s really hard to put into words everything that this program has given us seniors,” Barber said in 2020. “I know it’s something that we’ll remember forever and take it along with us the rest of our lives, and it’s really fun to be a part of.”

Just as her Marquette teams are immortalized on banners inside the Al McGuire Center, the name ‘Allie Barber’ is too — on a plaque on the arena’s main concourse. A place in which she used to compete. Where her legacy was built and will now remain.