CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois Volleyball alum Bryleigh Buchanan has joined the 2025 coaching staff, the program announced Monday.

A native of Harrisburg, Ill., Buchanan is a true Southern Illinoisan, coming to SIU from John A. Logan College where she was an assistant for three seasons. She was also an operations intern for SMASH Volleyball Academy in Carbondale from 2021-2022.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Bryleigh Buchanan back to Saluki Volleyball as our new Director of Operations,” Head Coach Brittany Harry said. “As a proud alum and Southern Illinois native, Bryleigh brings a deep understanding of our program’s values, culture, and competitive spirit. Her passion for SIU and dedication to excellence make her the perfect fit for this role.”

Her playing career followed a similar path, beginning at John A. Logan College where she earned her Associate’s Degree before finishing with her Bachelor’s at SIU in the School of Health and Human Sciences in 2022.

“It’s a blessing to return to the program I came up in, this time under Coach Harry. I’m excited to learn from her, connect with the team, and help put this program on track for a successful year,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan appeared in six matches for the Salukis in 2021, collecting 16 kills. As a freshman at John A. Logan, she was named to the NJCAA All-Region Team after tallying 255 kills and leading the team with 87 blocks.