February 2, 2026
PUERTO VALLARTA, MX – The Southern Illinois Salukis are headed south of the border as a part of their early 2026 season slate, with a significant early measuring stick when the Salukis travel to Mexico for the Triple Crown Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, a tournament head coach Jen Sewell believes offers both competitive value and long-term growth for a retooled roster.
The Salukis enter the season after navigating roster turnover common across the mid-major landscape. Southern Illinois lost two major contributors to Power Four programs, including former Missouri Valley Conference MVP Jackie Lis and the league’s 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, Anna Carder. Despite those departures, Sewell is confident in how her program responded.
“We do have great NIL support here,” Sewell said. “So, we were able to rebuild that with some transfers.”
That ability to reload is rooted in the program’s identity built on player development. Sewell has consistently guided Southern Illinois to individual accolades within the MVC, and she knows that philosophy is even more critical in the current transfer climate.
“We have always been a development type mid-major that has produced a lot of really good players,” Sewell said. “So, we have to have young players ready to go pretty quickly.”
Several of those young players will be on display in Puerto Vallarta, particularly in the circle.
Freshman pitchers Brooklyn Danielson and Haley Lucas are expected to get involved immediately, with Sewell calling them among the top freshmen arms in the conference.
The Salukis will also feature shortstop Jordan Stewart, a highly sought recruit who Sewell believes could contend for MVC Freshman of the Year honors. Sidney Potter, another transfer, anchors the lineup and is viewed internally as a potential Player of the Year candidate, while Delaney Osborne is also expected to play a key role early in the season.
Southern Illinois further benefits from the return of Leah Blomenkamp, Sage Grand and Haley Wilkerson, all of whom are back after missing portions of last year due to injury.
“I think all four will contribute in Mexico and beyond,” Sewell said. “I think we’ve done our job in replacing the numbers that we need to get back.”
The Puerto Vallarta College Challenge presents a demanding schedule; with a field that Sewell believes will provide meaningful early-season competition for postseason aspirations.
“Every team there will be well coached,” she said. “While it might look like a non-Power Four event, that doesn’t mean it’s a non-NCAA tournament. I think all of us will have a shot at our postseason.”
Sewell also sees value in facing familiar coaching pedigrees and programs navigating similar roster dynamics.
“We’re all constantly rebuilding and then trying to stay at the top of our conferences,” she said. “I’m just excited to kind of battle each other.”
Beyond the on-field competition, the international setting adds a unique dimension for Southern Illinois student athletes.
“To travel internationally is something that players don’t always get to do early in their careers,” Sewell said. “It requires players to get themselves to another country, to culturally adapt and to meet a situation very different from them.”
For Southern Illinois, the 2026 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge serves as both an early test and an opportunity — a chance to evaluate new pieces, measure progress against quality opponents, and set the tone for the season ahead.