Seven Sign to Play Volleyball at SOU
ASHLAND, ORE - Five high school seniors and two junior college transfers has signed to played volleyball at Southern Oregon in the Fall.
Prep standouts Haley Fikso (Hidden Valley High School/Murphy, Ore.), Kiely Nelson (Shasta High School/Redding, Calif.), Natalie Scheller (Bend High School, Bend, Ore.), Caryn Westrick (Bonney Lake High School/Bonney Lake, Wash.) and Liz Madden (Manson High School/Manson, Wash.) will join Chemeketa Community College’s Alisha Shigley and Linn-Benton Community College’s Chelsea Hartman at SOU.
“This class will add great depth, strength and exceptional skill to our front line and skill positions,” SOU Head Coach Josh Rohlfing said. “They will help to solidify our middle blocker position with the loss of All-American Mia Wortel. This is an exceptional group of student-athletes.”
Fisko, a 6-0 middle blocker, earned All-State honors last year at Hidden Valley and was named the Skyline Conference’s Player of the Year and Area Player of the Year. Fisko also was an All-Conference basketball player and was a four-year Scholar-Athlete award winner.
Nelson, a 5-11 outside hitter/middle blocker, was named All-Northern Section and All-Conference at Shasta High School as both a senior and junior. Nelson also was an All-Conference basketball player this past year.
“Kiely is a very dynamic jumper and has the ability to get off the floor exceptionally well,” Rohlfing said. “Kiely is going to be a tremendous blocker here from many seasons to come. Her best volleyball is ahead of her.”
Scheller, a 6-0 outside hitter, was a four-year varsity starter on Bend High School’s playoff team and earned All-Conference as a senior.
Westrick, a 5-6 setter/libero, earned three All-Conference awards during her four years at Bonney Lake High School. Westrick also shined on the Junior Olympic level, leading her club team to a fifth place finish last year.
Madden, a 5-11 outside hitter/right-side hitter, was named All-State and League MVP after leading Manson High School to a second place finish at the Washington State Championships this past Fall. Madden also earned All-Conference honors as a junior.
Shigley and Hartman will both bring collegiate experience to the Raiders.
Shigley, a 6-1 junior middle blocker, earned Second Team All-American honors at Chemeketa Community College. As a prep, Shigley was named All-Conference in volleyball and basketball at Douglas High School.
“Alisha is a long, quick and athletic middle blocker that will bring speed, experience and awareness to the middle blocker position,” Rohlfing said. “She’s been on our radar since she attended Douglas High School and our camp in 2006.”
Hartman, a 6-0 junior outside hitter, earned All-Conference honors at Linn-Benton Community College in 2006 and 2007 before sitting out last year. Hartman earned All-State honors as a senior at Lebanon High School and was named All-Conference all four years and the school’s Athlete of the Year all four years of high school.
“Chelsea is a very good volleyball player and a multi-faceted athlete,” Rohlfing said. “Chelsea will contribute immensely on the outside for us in the coming seasons.”
Southern Oregon went 20-10 last year and 17-3 in Cascade Conference play. The Raiders graduated one player from that team and return two-time All-American and two-time Cascade Conference Player of the Year Lindsey Stone.