Saluki Volleyball kicks off 2026 season at Lion Invitational

Friday, August 28

Commerce, TX

2 PM

Southern Illinois University

Louisiana-Monroe

Huddle Breakdown

08/27/2026 | 7:55:00 | Women's Volleyball

Live Stats Tournament Central

By: Corey Crombar, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Saluki Women's Volleyball squad kicks off the 2026 season in Commerce, Texas at the Lion Invitational hosted by East Texas A&M on Friday, August 28 against the UL Monroe Warhawks. The Salukis will also face off against East Texas A&M and Texas Southern.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Friday: vs. UL Monroe, 2 p.m.
Saturday: at East Texas A&M, 4 p.m.
Sunday: vs. Texas Southern, 11 a.m.

SERIES HISTORY:

The Salukis will play East Texas A&M and Texas Southern for the first time.
Southern has a 1-0 lead in the all-time series against UL Monroe, with their lone match being a 3-0 SIU sweep in Conway, Arkansas on Sept. 10, 2022.

QUICK HITS:

The Southern Illinois Women's Volleyball team was picked eighth in the annual coaches' Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. Northern Iowa led the poll once again with 119 points and 9 of the 11 first-place votes.
The Salukis finished 13-17 (7-9 MVC) in 2025, tying for 7th in The Valley with Bradley and missing the conference tournament.
Brittany Harry starts her second season for Southern on Friday. The Champaign, Ill., native has a career record of 323-195, which includes a 7-13 MVC record, and a 26-5 season with a Lone Star Conference Championship at West Texas A&M in 2024.
The Salukis return 3 players: Jillian Shaneyfelt, Ella Swansiger, and Julia Laidig. Southern welcomes 13 new players in the 2026 season.
Jillian Shaneyfelt returns as a team leader and defensive force. The defensive specialist/libero earned MVC Defensive Player of the Week honors for on October 20, 2025 after recording 45 digs in two matches, recording 28 at Bradley on October 17 and 17 at Illinois State on October 18. She also led Southern in digs with 484 on the season. That mark was fourth overall in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Senior opposite hitter Ella Swansiger looks to have a dominant senior campaign. Swansiger spent her freshman season at McNeese State and the last two season with the Salukis. Last season, she recorded 189 kills over 101 sets in 28 matches. She had a career high 20 kills at Bradley on October 17.
Julia Laidig hits the court in the 2026 season looking to make a statement. In her freshman campaign with the Salukis, the defensive specialist/libero appeared in 48 sets, tallying 50 digs on the season and posted 12 service aces.
Southern Illinois recruited 13 new players for the upcoming season, with a total of five true freshmen. The Salukis bring in 8 transfers from all over the world.
Southern features five international players: Carlota Mora (Madrid, Spain), Beatriz Piaia (Chopinzinho, Parana, Brazil), Ida Almkvsit (Jönköping, Sweden), Una Stepic (Kruševac, Serbia), and Valentina Zevallos (Lima, Perú).

Follow the tournament with Live Stats, or visit the Tournament Central page.

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