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Southern Oregon volleyball team signs four prep standouts May 04, 2002 12:00 AM A A ASHLAND - Southern Oregon University head volleyball coach Paul Elliott recently announced four prep stars will join the NAIA Region I champion Raiders this fall. The newcomers are Chaley Higgins of North Medford High; Amanda Lyons of Middleton, Idaho; Haley Phillips of Davis, Calif.; and Rachael Baran of New Buffalo, Mich. Higgins earned Southern Oregon Conference all-star honors all three seasons as a member of the Black Tornado varsity squad. The 6-foot middle blocker garnered first-team status after leading the 2001 team in kills and blocks, and as a junior, she landed second-team distinction and honorable mention all-state kudos as part of an undefeated league title squad that placed sixth in the state tournament. The 5-foot-10 Lyons, whose parents Randy (football) and Liz (track) were SOU student-athletes in the early 1980s, earned first-team all-state honors after leading Middleton High to a third-place Class 3A finish last season. The versatile three-time Snake River Valley Conference all-star earned a total of 12 varsity letters in volleyball, basketball and softball and gained induction into the National Honor Society. The 5-foot-9 Phillips, a member of four Capitol Athletic League championship teams at Davis Senior High, is a two-time league all-star and has competed on a top northern California club team. Baran, a six-foot outside hitter and four-sport prep athlete, garnered Red Arrow Conference all-star status three times and capped her career as a third-team all-state pick.