This Week in Saluki Athletics: November 24-30
11/24/2025 | 9:00:00 | General
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Thanksgiving Break is here at Southern Illinois, but that does not mean Salukis athletics slows down as both basketballs are in action across the country. Meanwhile, this past week, football wrapped up their season while swim and dive competed in their second straight invitational.
Volleyball
The Missouri Valley Conference announced its postseason honors for volleyball last week, and Kelly Franklin was named Second-Team All-MVC.
Franklin ranked fifth in The Valley with 351 kills with her 3.00 kill-per-set ranking ninth. Her 385.5 total points was the seventh most in the conference.
Football (7-5, 4-4)
Football ended their 2025 season on Saturday with a 37-7 win over #11/11 Illinois State. Quarter DJ Williams did most of the damage on the ground, rushing for 134 yards, four touchdowns, and breaking the single-season rushing record for a quarterback. Jay Jones was Williams' top target through the air, reeling in 60 yards. On defense, the Salukis picked up two interceptions courtesy of Chris Presto and Sebastian Vargas Escobar.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, SIU football finishes with a record of 7-5 and an MVFC record of 4-4.
Swim and Dive
The swim and dive team spent three days at the Mizzou Invite last week. Big performances came from the likes of Olivia Herron, Susy Hernandez, and Benedek Andor. Herron broke three school records, including the 400-IM, 200-breast, and then the 200-breast again in day two's finals. As for Hernandez, she set program bests in the 50-freestyle twice and the 100-freestyle. Finally, Andor set the record for the 200-IM.
Swim and dive now enters the winter break portion of their schedule, as the team will not be in action until January 9 when the men's team heads to Purdue.
Men's Basketball (3-2, 0-0)
Men's basketball was on the road for both of their games this past week. But before the week began, Quel'Ron House was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week. The Jacksonville State dropped 22 points while grabbing four rebounds in 44 minutes in SIU's overtime loss to Nevada the previous Wednesday.
On Monday, they fell 92-85 at North Dakota State University. House led the way offensively with 23 points while four other Salukis contributed double-digit points. Rolyns Aligbe and Davion Sykes were two of those players and both dished out seven assists apiece.
The squad then traveled down to Florida for the Jacksonville Classic Presented by Just Play. SIU opened the classic Sunday with a 79-59 win over Delaware. This time, Prince Aligbe led the Southern scoring with 12 points as five total Salukis scored 10+ points. Brothers Prince and Rolyns Aligbe tied for the game-lead in assists with six each, and Rolyns had a monster defensive game with four blocks.
Southern wraps up their stay at the Jacksonville Classic on Monday, Nov. 24, with a 12:30 p.m. (CST) game versus UAB. They then visit Memphis on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. (CST). The week's slate ends on Saturday, Nov. 29, with a home game against Arkansas Little Rock at 6 p.m.
Women's Basketball (2-2, 0-0)
The women's basketball team was in action just once this past week.
SIU fell to Missouri on Tuesday, 81-50. Three Salukis reached double-digits with ten points each, while Tkiyah Nelson grabbed seven rebounds and Jeniah Thompson collected four steals and a block.
Southern was then supposed to take on Austin Peay on Sunday, but the Governors were forced to forfeit the game due to health concerns among their team, resulting in a win for the Salukis.
This week features a trio of games for SIU. First, the Salukis partake in the Coast 2 Coast Music City Classic in Nashville, Tennessee. On Tuesday, Nov. 25, they take on Winthrop at 3:30 p.m. Southern then faces Arkansas on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 5:45 p.m. to wrap up their visit to the Classic. On Sunday, Nov. 30, SIU returns home to host Western Kentucky at 2 p.m.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X at @SIUSalukis, on Instagram at @siusalukis, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SalukiAthletics/. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Volleyball
The Missouri Valley Conference announced its postseason honors for volleyball last week, and Kelly Franklin was named Second-Team All-MVC.
Franklin ranked fifth in The Valley with 351 kills with her 3.00 kill-per-set ranking ninth. Her 385.5 total points was the seventh most in the conference.
Football (7-5, 4-4)
Football ended their 2025 season on Saturday with a 37-7 win over #11/11 Illinois State. Quarter DJ Williams did most of the damage on the ground, rushing for 134 yards, four touchdowns, and breaking the single-season rushing record for a quarterback. Jay Jones was Williams' top target through the air, reeling in 60 yards. On defense, the Salukis picked up two interceptions courtesy of Chris Presto and Sebastian Vargas Escobar.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, SIU football finishes with a record of 7-5 and an MVFC record of 4-4.
Swim and Dive
The swim and dive team spent three days at the Mizzou Invite last week. Big performances came from the likes of Olivia Herron, Susy Hernandez, and Benedek Andor. Herron broke three school records, including the 400-IM, 200-breast, and then the 200-breast again in day two's finals. As for Hernandez, she set program bests in the 50-freestyle twice and the 100-freestyle. Finally, Andor set the record for the 200-IM.
Swim and dive now enters the winter break portion of their schedule, as the team will not be in action until January 9 when the men's team heads to Purdue.
Men's Basketball (3-2, 0-0)
Men's basketball was on the road for both of their games this past week. But before the week began, Quel'Ron House was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week. The Jacksonville State dropped 22 points while grabbing four rebounds in 44 minutes in SIU's overtime loss to Nevada the previous Wednesday.
On Monday, they fell 92-85 at North Dakota State University. House led the way offensively with 23 points while four other Salukis contributed double-digit points. Rolyns Aligbe and Davion Sykes were two of those players and both dished out seven assists apiece.
The squad then traveled down to Florida for the Jacksonville Classic Presented by Just Play. SIU opened the classic Sunday with a 79-59 win over Delaware. This time, Prince Aligbe led the Southern scoring with 12 points as five total Salukis scored 10+ points. Brothers Prince and Rolyns Aligbe tied for the game-lead in assists with six each, and Rolyns had a monster defensive game with four blocks.
Southern wraps up their stay at the Jacksonville Classic on Monday, Nov. 24, with a 12:30 p.m. (CST) game versus UAB. They then visit Memphis on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. (CST). The week's slate ends on Saturday, Nov. 29, with a home game against Arkansas Little Rock at 6 p.m.
Women's Basketball (2-2, 0-0)
The women's basketball team was in action just once this past week.
SIU fell to Missouri on Tuesday, 81-50. Three Salukis reached double-digits with ten points each, while Tkiyah Nelson grabbed seven rebounds and Jeniah Thompson collected four steals and a block.
Southern was then supposed to take on Austin Peay on Sunday, but the Governors were forced to forfeit the game due to health concerns among their team, resulting in a win for the Salukis.
This week features a trio of games for SIU. First, the Salukis partake in the Coast 2 Coast Music City Classic in Nashville, Tennessee. On Tuesday, Nov. 25, they take on Winthrop at 3:30 p.m. Southern then faces Arkansas on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 5:45 p.m. to wrap up their visit to the Classic. On Sunday, Nov. 30, SIU returns home to host Western Kentucky at 2 p.m.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X at @SIUSalukis, on Instagram at @siusalukis, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SalukiAthletics/. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
Free/Breast/Fly/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
Free/Breast
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
LB
/ Football
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
CB
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