National Girls & Women in Sports Day is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday of February. This day is dedicated to recognizing female athletic achievements and promoting opportunities for girls in sports.
Today, the NMU Athletics Department is celebrating girls and women, both past and present, to honor the achievements of women in sports, acknowledge the impact of sports participation, and advocate for equality and inclusion for girls in athletics.
MARQUETTE, Mich. – For
Allie Barlow, sports have always been about more than competition.
From the friendships built on the court to the shared pursuit of constant improvement, athletics quickly became a defining part of her life and a foundation for both personal growth and leadership.
A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Barlow has quickly established herself as one of the Midwest's best setters. She has earned consecutive Second Team All-GLIAC honors and is already eighth on the program's all-time assist leaderboard with 2,560.
Beyond the accolades, Barlow sees her growth in sports as deeply tied to the friendships and lessons she's gained along the way.
"I first realized sports would play an important role in my life when I noticed that all of my best friends came from the teams I was on and shared the same goals as me," Barlow said. "We all just wanted to get better, and I realized that being with my friends while playing sports was the best way to do that."
That foundation of teamwork and shared goals later evolved into a deeper understanding of leadership.
"I have always looked up to one of my first volleyball coaches, who was a setter and played both in college and overseas. She taught me about the grind it takes to be a good leader, and I still use her as a guide to push me through my college volleyball experience when things feel hard."
Now a captain for the Wildcats, Barlow looks to be that role model for the next generation of female athletes.
"I want to be a role model for younger athletes by showing them that playing your sport teaches you so much more about yourself than anything else ever will. I want them to notice that even through the ups and downs of life outside of sports, you can always return to doing what you love with the people who make you better. It's important for younger athletes to understand the necessity of working for what they want, because if they don't, someone else will."
Her commitment to guiding younger athletes is matched by the lessons she continues to learn from her teammates and those around her at Northern Michigan.
"I appreciate the way my teammates have shaped me into the person I am. I learn from them every day – not just about volleyball, but about being a good person. I truly look up to every single one of the women I compete alongside every day. I also appreciate that we are always there for each other; regardless of any circumstances on the court or in the gym, we are each other's outlets."
Barlow is now living out her dream of competing at the collegiate level. With all the hard work and time dedicated to getting here, she reflects on her journey of reaching the goal she set out for herself at an early age.
"It is extremely rewarding to finally be at the point in my life where I get to represent women in volleyball and to embrace the hard work and dedication it takes to do so. It takes a certain type of person to be a collegiate athlete, and I feel very proud to be part of that group."
Her journey to this level, however, has never been hers alone.
Every practice attended, every early morning and late night, and every bit of travel has been made possible because of the people who committed their time, energy, and resources so she could chase her dream.
The sacrifices of those around her — from coaches to teammates, and especially her family — laid the foundation that allowed her to reach this stage. It's a reminder that individual success is often supported by the unseen work and dedication of others who believe in you.
"I would undoubtedly thank my parents for helping me get to the point that I am today in my volleyball career. This isn't just my journey; it's theirs too, and they have sacrificed even more than I have in order to help me achieve this dream of mine. They are the sole reason why I have been able to grow into the player that I am — from club volleyball costs, traveling, taking time off work, bringing me to practices and games, and always being my number one fans at every single game. I would be nowhere near where I am today without them doing these things for me, and I can't thank them enough for putting me in the position to succeed as a woman in sports. My parents are rockstars!"
Reflecting on her journey, Barlow also sees the broader impact of women in sports.
"Women in Sports Day means taking a step back to recognize how strong women are, and what a privilege it is to be able to do the thing that I love with a group of inspiring women. It's a time to honor women's history and what we have built in the athletic world for ourselves. Being a woman in sports has led me to be a version of myself that I am proud of. I have learned how to push myself out of my comfort zone, and have experienced a tremendous amount of growth both on and off the court because of it. I know myself as a hardworking woman who will do whatever it takes to succeed, and I don't think I would have learned that about myself this early in my life if it weren't for athletics being such a huge part of my everyday."
