ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Southern Illinois University softball team was chosen as the Missouri Valley Conference favorite in the MVC Preseason Poll, while both Jackie Lis (shortstop) and Emma Austin (outfield) were named to the Preseason All-Valley Team.
Southern Illinois received 129 total votes and four first-place votes in the poll that was released by the league on Tuesday.
Belmont was selected to finish second with 125 overall votes and three first-place votes, followed by Northern Iowa (121 total, four first-place votes). UNI was picked as the favorite in each of the previous three seasons.
UIC was the lone other team in the Valley to receive a first-place vote with one.
Lis and Austin earned spots on the Preseason All-MVC Team for the second consecutive season. SIU was one of two teams to have multiple players selected, as the Redbirds had a league-high four.
Southern has won back-to-back MVC Tournaments and in 2024, won its fifth regular season championship and first since 2010. The Salukis have won the conference tournament in three of the last four seasons (2021, 2023, and 2024).
The Salukis will begin the 2025 season on Friday against Appalachian State at 10 a.m. in Auburn, Ala.
MVC Preseason Poll:
1. Southern Illinois – 129 (4)
2. Belmont – 125 (3)
3. UNI 121 – (4)
4. Illinois State – 115
5. Bradley – 101
6. Missouri State – 72
7. Drake – 70
8. Murray State – 58
9. UIC – 53 (1)
10. Evansville – 44
11. Indiana State – 35
12. Valparaiso – 13
Preseason All-Valley Team:
1B – Kayla Ulrich, Missouri State
2B – Delainey Bryant Illinois State
3B – Kate Lappe, UNI
SS – Jackie Lis, Southern Illinois
C – Bella Wilkerson, Illinois State
UT/P – Sydney Kennedy, Bradley
DP/UP-NP – Adisyn Hopkins, Illinois State
OF – Emma Austin, Southern Illinois
OF – Hailey Cowing, UIC
OF – Zoe Frossard, Evansville
P – Maya Johnson, Belmont
P – Paige McLeod, Illinois State
