Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) softball team has achieved significant recognition in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) awards. Six players were named to the All-MVC First Team, one to the Second Team, and three specialty awards were granted to the team, as announced by the league on Wednesday.

Jackie Lis, Anna Carder, Emma Austin, Mikaela Coburn, McKenzie Newcomb, and Emily Williams received All-MVC First Team honors. Addi Baker was placed on the All-MVC Second Team.

Anna Carder earned the title of MVC Defensive Player of the Year and was included in the All-Defensive Team. Emily Williams was awarded MVC Newcomer of the Year. The coaching staff comprising Jen Sewell, Mary Jo Firnbach, and Laurin Watts was recognized as MVC Coaching Staff of the Year.

"This is the third time a Saluki has received MVC Defensive Player of the Year," stated a representative from SIU. Katelyn Massa last won this award in 2019. Maddy Vermejan also secured it in 2018.

Williams made history for Southern Illinois as their first-ever MVC Newcomer of the Year. She finished second in home runs with 16 and led with 51 RBIs during regular season play. Her performance included a conference-best 45 RBIs.

Southern Illinois' coaching staff earned its seventh MVC Coaching Staff of the Year title, previously winning in 2002 through 2005, 2010, 2024, and now again in 2025.

The six members on this year's All-MVC First Team match SIU's record set in 2005. Jackie Lis has been consistently on this team for three years with notable statistics including a .351 batting average and ten home runs this season.

For Emma Austin and Anna Carder, this is their first inclusion on the First Team as Salukis. Meanwhile, newcomers Williams, Newcomb, and Coburn made an impact by securing spots during their initial year at SIU.

Addi Baker's contribution landed her on the All-MVC Second Team after achieving eleven home runs and a slugging percentage of .546 over her games played.

The program marked its ninth inclusion on the MVC All-Defensive Team with Carder's selection. This recognition started back in 2015 for SIU players.

SIU clinched the MVC regular-season championship last Sunday and will enter this week's tournament as top seed for a second consecutive year. Their first game is scheduled against either Drake or Murray State on Thursday morning in Des Moines, Iowa.

Missouri Valley Conference Specialty Awards include Kate Lappe from UNI as Player of the Year; Maya Johnson from Belmont as Pitcher of the Year; Rylee Spindler from Belmont as Freshman of the Year; along with recognitions given to Southern Illinois players and staff mentioned earlier.

For more updates on Saluki Softball activities or achievements follow them across social media platforms like Twitter (@SIU_Softball), Facebook (Facebook.com/SalukiSoftball), Instagram (@SIU_Softball), or via their mobile app available for download from major app stores.