Marquette volleyball looks set to lose its three 2025 All-Big East and AVCA All-North Region honorees.
While it has been known that unanimous all-conference team member and Major League Volleyball draftee Hattie Bray would graduate, outside hitter Natalie Ring and setter Isabela Haggard both entered their names into the transfer portal this week, according to On3’s Talia Goodman.
The two Golden Eagle stars join in the portal first-year outside hitter Mari King, who insinuated her decision to transfer in an Instagram post Dec. 8.
A team spokesperson declined to comment when asked by the Marquette Wire. Neither of the players responded to confirmation requests, and only Haggard posted on social media about the decision as of 1 p.m. on Dec. 10
Ring, who needed to carry the hitting mantle after the departures of Aubrey Hamilton, Jenna Reitsma and Ella Foti, set career-bests in five statistics and spearheaded the Golden Eagles’ offense in her first season playing six full rotations. She earned unanimous All-Big East team recognition for the first time in her career after leading the conference in kills per set (4.53), total kills (439), total attacks (1,122) and points per set (5.10).
“That’s been an M.O. of my game this season and the past few years and just wanted to take big swings and going hard,” Ring said after posting a career-high 29 kills in the season finale five-set loss to No. 2 seed Louisville. “And believing that if I take those big swings that people won’t be able to stop me.”
Haggard, who had the daunting task of filling former setter Yadhira Anchante’s role in running the offense, was named Big East co-freshman of the year. She was the fourth Golden Eagle in program history to earn the award and the first since 2017. Haggard ranked third in the conference with 9.15 assists per set and fifth in total assists with 878.
On Dec. 10, she posted on Instagram, “Thanks MU for the mems, excited for the next chapter #Godsplan.”
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Minutes after Goodman posted about Haggard’s portal decision, the program announced the signing of Brazilian setter Luanna Markus to its 2026 recruiting class. Markus has played for Brazil’s U19 National Team and, in 2024, was named best setter at the U19 South American Championship as Brazil finished in first place.
Mari King seems to be transferring as well
King’s Dec. 8 Instagram post had the caption, “a chapter full of blessings, thank you mu,” signifying she was also entering the portal. King did not immediately responded to confirmation requests.
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The Jacksonville, Florida, native graduated as the Florida High School Athletic Association’s all-time kills leader with 2,299, and broke the state’s career record with a personal-best 40 kills in a match against Providence High School in 2024. But, in her time as a Golden Eagle, she mainly played in the back row, finishing her first year with 19 kills compared to 163 digs.
Both Haggard and King came to Marquette early in January 2025 as former head coach Ryan Theis’ recruits, before Mendoza took over in March.
This story was written by Jack Albright and Raquel Ruiz. Jack can be reached at jack.albright@marquette.edu or on Twitter/X @JackAlbrightMU. Raquel can be reached at raquel.ruiz@marquette.edu or on Twitter/X @RaquelRuizMU.