ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Southern Illinois University softball team has landed six players on the All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team, one on the Second Team, and has received three specialty awards, as announced by the league on Wednesday.
Jackie Lis, Anna Carder, Emma Austin, Mikaela Coburn, McKenzie Newcomb, and Emily Williams were all named to the All-MVC First Team while Addi Baker was named to the All-MVC Second Team.
Carder was also named the MVC Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team, while Williams was awarded MVC Newcomer of the Year. Southern Illinois’ staff of Jen Sewell, Mary Jo Firnbach, and Laurin Watts received MVC Coaching Staff of the Year.
This is the third time a Saluki has received MVC Defensive Player of the Year and first time since catcher Katelyn Massa won it in 2019. Southern also won it in 2018 with second baseman Maddy Vermejan earning the honor.
Williams is Southern Illinois’ first-ever MVC Newcomer of the Year. The sophomore finished the regular season second in the Valley in home runs (16) and was first in RBI (51). Williams’ 13 home runs in conference play are tied for the most in the MVC.
In league games, Williams had a conference-best 45 RBI. The next closest player was Kate Lappe from Northern Iowa who had 31.
Southern Illinois’ staff was awarded MVC Coaching Staff of the Year for the second consecutive season and seventh time overall. The Salukis have earned this in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2024, and now 2025.
SIU’s six All-MVC First Team members are its most since having six in 2005, which is tied for a program record.
Lis has been on the First Team in all three years of her Saluki career. This season, the shortstop had a batting average of .351 with 10 home runs, 42 RBI, and 44 runs scored. Lis’ 1.067 OPS ranks eighth in the conference.
This is the first time Austin and Carder have been on the First Team as Salukis, while newcomers Williams, Newcomb, and Coburn all earned a spot in their first year at SIU. Austin ended the regular season with a batting average of .363, 62 hits, 34 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases in 26 attempts.
Carder had an average of .393 with a 1.117 OPS, six home runs, 39 RBI, and 33 runs scored. The catcher’s .457 batting average in conference play ranked second in the Valley, while her .551 on-base percentage also ranked second.
Newcomb finished the regular season second in the conference in ERA (1.75), wins (19), strikeouts (138), and was fifth in innings pitched (135.2). The senior lowered her ERA to 1.42 against Valley opposition and went 14-0 in league play.
In her first year in Carbondale, Coburn hit for an average of .368, the fifth-best mark in the league. The sophomore’s average climbed up to .371 once conference play began, where she also tallied an OPS of .972 with two home runs, 14 RBI, and 14 runs scored.
Baker earned a spot on the All-MVC Second Team after hitting 11 home runs with 32 RBI and a slugging percentage of .546. The senior first baseman also had 36 hits, four doubles, two triples, and 15 walks in 48 games played. This marks the fifth consecutive season where Southern Illinois has had someone featured on the Second Team.
Carder being on the MVC All-Defensive Team marks the ninth time in program history where an SIU player has earned a spot on the team. The first year for the award was 2015.
Southern Illinois secured the MVC regular season championship on Sunday and enters this week’s conference tournament as the No. 1 seed for the second straight year. SIU’s first game will be on Thursday, May 8, at 10 a.m. against either No. 8 Drake or No. 9 Murray State in Des Moines, Iowa.
To view the All-MVC teams, click here.
Missouri Valley Conference Specialty Awards
Player of the Year: Kate Lappe, UNI
Pitcher of the Year: Maya Johnson, Belmont
Defensive Player of the Year: Anna Carder, Southern Illinois
Newcomer of the Year: Emily Williams, Southern Illinois
Freshman of the Year: Rylee Spindler, Belmont
Coaching Staff of the Year: Southern Illinois
