Jillian Shaneyfelt
Photo by: Jordan Kruse
Salukis look to stay perfect in Valley play
10/02/2025 | 1:05:00 | Women's Volleyball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois will look to stay undefeated in Missouri Valley Conference play against Indiana State and Belmont beginning Friday in Davies Gym then Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
- Friday: vs. Indiana State, 6 p.m., Live Stats | Watch
- Saturday: at Belmont, 5 p.m., Live Stats | Watch
SERIES HISTORY:
- Southern Illinois has won five consecutive matches against the Sycamores, including a 3-2 victory in Terre Haute in 2024. The Salukis also hold the all-time series lead with a 58-23-1 record.
- The Salukis and Bruins have faced off just seven times, and Southern has a narrow 4-3 advantage in the all-time series. Belmont won the 2024 match in Carbondale, 3-1.
LAST TIME OUT:
- The Salukis went 2-0 to open Missouri Valley Conference play with 3-1 victories at Murray State and at home vs. Evansville.
- On Wednesday, Southern swept Memphis to increase its win streak to four.
QUICK HITS:
- The Southern Illinois Women's Volleyball team was picked ninth in the annual coaches' Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. UNI led the poll once again with 120 points and 10 of the 11 first-place votes.
- Southern Illinois returns eight players from the 2024 season: five outside hitters, two middle blockers, and one defensive specialist.
- Krakowski returns after a big freshman campaign in the middle. Earlier this season, the Roselle, Ill., native had a career-high 11 blocks against Murray State on Sept. 26, a mark that leads The Valley this season. She is tied for fourth in the MVC with 53 total blocks.
- Senior outside hitter Annabelle Sulish returns after being the team's most productive offensive player in 2024. In 2025's season-opening win over Sam Houston, she set her career high in kills with 23. She is currently ninth in The Valley in kills per set (3.00) and seventh in total kills (162). She also ranks 10th in The Valley in points per set (3.37) and eighth in total points (182). The Knoxville, Tenn., native needs 11 kills to become the 17th Saluki to eclipse 1,000 kills in her career.
- Setter Emma Lade had 40 assists in the season-opening win over Sam Houston, the most by a Saluki setter since Anna Jaworski had 51 assists on Nov. 16, 2022. She ranks third in The Valley in total assists (393) and fifth in assists per set (6.44). She also has 23 aces, which ranks third in The Valley.
- Freshman setters Addison Kerr and Meghan Anderson have both made big impacts early in the season. Anderson had a season-high 22 assists in the Sept. 26 win over Murray State. Kerr had the best game of her young freshman career in a loss to New Mexico State on Sept. 5, tallying 27 assists.
- As a team, Southern Illinois is second in The Valley with 97 service aces.
- Larissa Seger set a career-high with 15 kills against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 6, and currently ranks third in the MVC in hitting percentage (.391). Seger has also impressed from the service line with 21 aces, tied for fourth in The Valley. She is seventh in The Valley with 50 total blocks and 0.96 blocks per set.
- Jillian Shaneyfelt is third in the MVC with 245 digs, and is sixth in digs per set with 4.15.
- Cecilia Bulmahn is 10th in the MVC with 169 digs. She is also tied for seventh in service aces with 17.
- Kelly Franklin has been ultra-efficient from the outside this season, hitting .321, which is seventh in the MVC. She has 159 kills, which is tied for eighth in the MVC. She has eight matches where she's hit over .350, including .400-plus in her last three.
- Southern had 10 aces in the four-set win over Oakland, which is the most in The Valley thus far. They also lead The Valley with the most aces in five sets, putting down 13 against McNeese State. In Friday's win over Murray State, they had 63 assists, tied for the most in the MVC in a four-set match.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X (@SIU_Volleyball), Instagram (@SIU_Volleyball) and Facebook (SalukiVolleyball). Fans can also download the Salukis Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
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