HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The following individuals have signed national letters of intent to attend Northern Kentucky University and participate in the intercollegiate athletics program during the 2006-07 academic year.

Baseball

• Ian Durbin, a 2006 graduate of Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware, Ohio. Durbin finished his junior year with a .444 batting average and was named the offensive player of the year. He was also selected to the junior team in Ohio, first team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, second team All-District and first team All-County as a junior. Durbin helped Buckeye Valley capture the conference championship for three straight years and the sectional championship in 2005.

• Patrick Muth, a 2006 graduate of Beechwood High School. Muth helped lead the Tigers to the 34th district championship as a sophomore and junior along with the 9th Region championship as a sophomore and runner-up finish as a junior. Beechwood advanced to the state tournament during Muth’s sophomore season . He was named the 9th Region All “A” Classic Tournament most valuable player in 2005.

• Tyler Schunk, a 2006 graduate of Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati. A catcher, Schunk batted .426 with three home runs, 15 doubles and 30 runs batted in as a senior. He was named the Greater Miami Conference Athlete of the Year in baseball.

Men’s Cross Country

• Reggie Bieger, a 2006 graduate of St. Henry High School. While at St. Henry, Bieger helped the Crusaders capture four consecutive state championships and won the 2005 individual cross country state title as well. He was named the 2005 cross country runner of the year.

Women’s Cross Country

• Erica Osborne, a 2006 graduate of Princeton High School. Osborne was the Vikings’ most valuable runner during her sophomore year, and she helped Princeton to a third-place finish in the Greater Miami Conference.

• Nina Vaughn, a 2006 graduate of Colerain High School in Cincinnati. During her career at Colerain, Vaughn helped the Cardinals to a state runner-up finish twice. She was also a part of a Colerain program that has made an appearance in 10 straight state meets.

Women’s Soccer

• Alayna Fontaine, a 2006 graduate of Fairfield High School. As a junior, Fontaine finished with 156 saves, 11 shutouts and only allowed nine goals in 16 games. She was the Indians’ most valuable player in 2005 and received second team All-Greater Miami League honors as a goalie.

Softball

• Lisa Ballantyne, a transfer from Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College. Ballantyne finished with a .380 batting average and earned All-Michigan Community College Athletic Association honors while at Grand Rapids. As a senior at Coopersville High School, she hit a school-record seven homers and finished the season with a .853 slugging percentage. She also finished with 14 doubles and 50 runs scored. Ballantyne helped the Broncos capture the district championship in 2003, while receiving all-conference, all-area and all-region honors.

• Amber Gregory, a 2006 graduate of Batavia High School. A third baseman/catcher, Gregory batted .620 this season with 15 doubles, two triples and a home run. In 2005, Gregory finished with a .609 batting average and 53 hits. Her batting average ranked 21st in the state of Ohio as a junior.

• Krista Smith, a 2006 graduate of Valley View High School in Germantown, Ohio. Smith finished with a .446 batting average, six home runs, 52 runs batted in and 23 stolen bases. She helped the Spartans capture the league title twice while earning first team All-Southwestern Buckeye League honors.

• Kelly Greer, a 2006 graduate of Louisville Mercy. Greer batted .310 as a junior with two home runs and 22 RBI. She also earned honorable mention all-state accolades.

Tennis

• Michelle Schirmann, a 2006 graduate of Mercy High School in Cincinnati. While at Mercy, Schirmann compiled an 80-40 over four years and advanced to the quarterfinals in doubles at the state tournament. She received second team all-state, first team All-GGCL and second team All-GCTCA honors.

Volleyball

• Andrea Price, a 2006 graduate of St. Henry High School. As a three-year starter, Price helped St. Henry capture the district and regional championships in both 2004 and 2005, and the Crusaders advanced to the 2005 state championship game. An outside hitter at St. Henry, Price earned first team All-Northern Kentucky Division II honors three times.