SIU Has 6 Enter Portal Including Former MVC Player of the Year

After winning its second straight Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season title and the first time since 2004 going back-to-back, six players from Southern Illinois University, including shortstop Jackie Lis have entered the transfer portal.

Lis confirmed her decision by reposting several posts on X about her entry.

Southern Illinois IF Jackie Lis has entered the transfer portal.

The 2024 Missouri Valley conference MVP and a 2023 D1Softball Freshman All-American, Lis owns a career .353 batting average with 44 home runs, 141 RBIs, 154 runs scored, and a .457 on-base percentage. pic.twitter.com/BnwQHQUVJX
— Justin McLeod (@justfactsmaam) May 18, 2025

With a 33-20 season, the Salukis failed to come out on top in the MVC Championship, losing 6-2 to Belmont University. With the former MVC MVP Lis in their lineup, she certainly stole the show all season long. Holding SIU’s career home run record with 44, she ended the season with 17 home runs and 57 RBIs.

On the field, she’s just as dangerous, with a career fielding percentage of .935. Lis will have one year left of eligibility.

𝗡𝗘𝗪. 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗨𝗞𝗜. 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗.

Jackie Lis has broken the SIU career home run record with her 40th HR as a Saluki!! ✨#Salukis | @JackieLis00 pic.twitter.com/4CGhMLVfV6
— Saluki Softball (@SIU_Softball) March 9, 2025

Other SIU players to hit the portal include freshman pitcher Kaytee Dahlstrom who announced via X on Monday.

I am officially in the portal! Thank you to SIU for giving me the opportunity to play my first year. Excited to see where I end up.

530-701-6659
only1kaytee@gmail.com @SoftballPortal @D1Softball pic.twitter.com/edCmEWsX1K
— Kaytee Dahlstrom 2024 (@KTDahlstrom2024) May 19, 2025