Meghan Anderson, Emma Christian, Addison Kerr, Julia Laidig, and Angelique Pena
News | Saluki Volleyball finalizes 2025 freshman class
05/02/2025 | 3:30:00 | Women's Volleyball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois Volleyball has signed five freshmen to its 2025 recruiting class. Meghan Anderson, Emma Christian, Addison Kerr, Julia Laidig and Angelique Pena will join the Salukis in the fall.
Head Coach Brittany Harry is proud of her inaugural class and is excited to get to work.
Anderson is one of three setters in the class. She tallied 2,000 assists over her junior and senior seasons, earning a plethora of awards.
Accomplishments:
The Omaha, Neb., native will bring a winning mindset as the ultimate competitor, Harry believes.Â
"We are so happy to add Meghan to the Saluki family. She comes from the storied Skutt Catholic program in Omaha and has spent time in the program running a 6-2 and 5-1 during her career there where they have won several 4A State Championships. She has winning in her blood and is a fierce competitor that is sure to add immediate competition into our setter position."
Christian will join the Salukis as the second Kansas City native on the team. She had 37 aces and dug 490 attempts in the 2024-25 season. In addition to her achievements on the court, she was also a star in the classroom.
Accomplishments:
Harry is excited to use her versatile skill set.
"Emma Christian is a do-it-all kind of player. Having played for Dynasty out of Kansas City she is a high-skilled player who has a really high volleyball IQ on the court. She has spent time as a setter and defensive specialist/libero and she brings this calm competitiveness energy to the court. We are thrilled to add Emma to our Saluki family."
Kerr stuffed the stat sheet at St. Thomas More High School in Champaign, Ill. During her senior season, she did it all, posting 99 kills, 59 aces, 31 total blocks and 158 digs. Her most impressive accomplishment was her 849 assists, which ranked seventh in the State of Illinois.
Accomplishments:
The hometown connection with Harry made the recruiting process easier than most, and the first-year head coach is ready to get her into Davies Gym.
"It was so fun recruiting Addie to Carbondale. Addie is from Champaign, which is also my hometown and coincidentally her high school coach at St. Thomas More, Brad Dalton, was my freshman year JV coach way back at Central High School. Add the connection with both of us playing club at Illini Elite, it was an easy 'yes' to want Addie to come play for us at SIU. Addie will add depth to the setter position. I knew I was getting a gritty competitor with our common connections and I am so excited that she will be with us this fall in a Saluki uniform."
Laidig brings another versatile skillset to Southern. Although she will primarily serve as a defensive specialist, the Woodstock, Ill., native put down 331 kills during her senior season to go along with 320 digs.
Accomplishments:
She has stayed true to Southern throughout her recruiting process, something that did not go unnoticed by Harry.
"Julia is a defensive specialist from Woodstock, Ill. who played club for VC United. From my first conversation with Julia, I knew I was getting an all-in kid who would fit the mold of the type of player we will recruit to SIU. It is fairly common for kids to reopen their recruitment when a coaching change occurs but that was not the case with Julia. Julia has stayed committed to SIU volleyball and it was great getting to know her this spring. Julia has experience playing just about every position on the court and I am excited to bring her poise and maturity to our program."
Pena will provide a boost to SIU's presence in the middle. Bolingbrook High School's middle had 196 kills in 81 sets played. She also denied 18 attacks and had 22 service aces.
Accomplishments:
Pena's hitting prowess at the net makes her a natural fit for the current roster and has sky-high potential.
"Angie is one of those kids who we just clicked within the recruiting process. Angie is a utility hitter who has spent time at every position at the net. She has been trained with a lot of discipline having spent time playing club at Sports Performance and 1st Alliance in Chicago. Along with top-notch training, she also brings a high standard of winning with her. Angie has a super high ceiling to improve and we are excited to add her arm to our gym in the fall."
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.  Â
Head Coach Brittany Harry is proud of her inaugural class and is excited to get to work.
Anderson is one of three setters in the class. She tallied 2,000 assists over her junior and senior seasons, earning a plethora of awards.
Accomplishments:
- Four-time Neb. state qualifier
- Two-time Neb. state champion
- One-time Neb. state runner-up
- All-Conference (2023-24)
- All-Omaha Area Team (2023-24)
- All-State Tournament Team (2023-24)
- All-State Team (2023-24)
- Set school and state record for assists in a match with 71 assists (2024)
- Selected to play in the Neb. All-Star match (2024)
The Omaha, Neb., native will bring a winning mindset as the ultimate competitor, Harry believes.Â
"We are so happy to add Meghan to the Saluki family. She comes from the storied Skutt Catholic program in Omaha and has spent time in the program running a 6-2 and 5-1 during her career there where they have won several 4A State Championships. She has winning in her blood and is a fierce competitor that is sure to add immediate competition into our setter position."
Christian will join the Salukis as the second Kansas City native on the team. She had 37 aces and dug 490 attempts in the 2024-25 season. In addition to her achievements on the court, she was also a star in the classroom.
Accomplishments:
- Missouri All-State (2024)
- All-Conference and All-District First-Team (2024)
- All-Conference and All-District Second-Team (2022 and 2023)
- AVCA All-Region (2024)
- AVCA Phenom Watch List (2021-23)
- Club National Champion 15 Open Division (2021)
- Club National Runner-Up 13 Open Division (2019)
- Triple Crown Champion (2019-20)
- Cluv GJNC Third-Place 18 American (2025)
- Honorable Mention All-Tournament Team (2025)
- Liberty North Academic Letter
- Academic Missouri All-State
- AVCA Academic Team Award
- Weighted GPA 4.143
- Ranked 76th out of 546 in her class
Harry is excited to use her versatile skill set.
"Emma Christian is a do-it-all kind of player. Having played for Dynasty out of Kansas City she is a high-skilled player who has a really high volleyball IQ on the court. She has spent time as a setter and defensive specialist/libero and she brings this calm competitiveness energy to the court. We are thrilled to add Emma to our Saluki family."
Kerr stuffed the stat sheet at St. Thomas More High School in Champaign, Ill. During her senior season, she did it all, posting 99 kills, 59 aces, 31 total blocks and 158 digs. Her most impressive accomplishment was her 849 assists, which ranked seventh in the State of Illinois.
Accomplishments:
- 2024 First-Team All-State
- News Gazette First-Team All-Area
- Unanimous First-Team All-Conference
- 2023 Second-Team All-State
- AVCA All-Region
- 2021 1A State Champion
- Four-time Regional Champion
- Three-time Sectional Champion
The hometown connection with Harry made the recruiting process easier than most, and the first-year head coach is ready to get her into Davies Gym.
"It was so fun recruiting Addie to Carbondale. Addie is from Champaign, which is also my hometown and coincidentally her high school coach at St. Thomas More, Brad Dalton, was my freshman year JV coach way back at Central High School. Add the connection with both of us playing club at Illini Elite, it was an easy 'yes' to want Addie to come play for us at SIU. Addie will add depth to the setter position. I knew I was getting a gritty competitor with our common connections and I am so excited that she will be with us this fall in a Saluki uniform."
Laidig brings another versatile skillset to Southern. Although she will primarily serve as a defensive specialist, the Woodstock, Ill., native put down 331 kills during her senior season to go along with 320 digs.
Accomplishments:
- Illinois State Scholar
- Seal of Biliteracy - Spanish
- National Honor Society
- Spanish National Honor Society
- Two-year High School varsity captain
- Two-year All-Conference
- Two-year High School team Most Valuable Player
- All-Tournament Honorable Mention at 18's GJNC
She has stayed true to Southern throughout her recruiting process, something that did not go unnoticed by Harry.
"Julia is a defensive specialist from Woodstock, Ill. who played club for VC United. From my first conversation with Julia, I knew I was getting an all-in kid who would fit the mold of the type of player we will recruit to SIU. It is fairly common for kids to reopen their recruitment when a coaching change occurs but that was not the case with Julia. Julia has stayed committed to SIU volleyball and it was great getting to know her this spring. Julia has experience playing just about every position on the court and I am excited to bring her poise and maturity to our program."
Pena will provide a boost to SIU's presence in the middle. Bolingbrook High School's middle had 196 kills in 81 sets played. She also denied 18 attacks and had 22 service aces.
Accomplishments:
- Raider Academic Excellence Award all four years
- Phenom Watch List (2023)
- All-America Watch List (2024-25)
- Broke the All-Season record for total blocks (2024)
- Team Captain (2024)
Pena's hitting prowess at the net makes her a natural fit for the current roster and has sky-high potential.
"Angie is one of those kids who we just clicked within the recruiting process. Angie is a utility hitter who has spent time at every position at the net. She has been trained with a lot of discipline having spent time playing club at Sports Performance and 1st Alliance in Chicago. Along with top-notch training, she also brings a high standard of winning with her. Angie has a super high ceiling to improve and we are excited to add her arm to our gym in the fall."
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.  Â
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