VB Inks Six on National Signing Day
11/12/2025 4:50:00 PM | Volleyball
BU brings in its largest class since 2022
WACO, Texas – Baylor volleyball signed six players on day one of the fall signing window, bringing in one of the best classes in the nation.
Comprised of two outside hitters, two middle blockers, a setter and a libero, the 2026 class features four players who rank in the top-10 in their respective states, highlighted by Nadiya Johnson, the No. 1 overall player in the state of Virginia.
In the midst of a season where young players have made an immediate and significant impact on the court, head coach Ryan McGuyre is thrilled to add these six players to the fold for next season.
"I am exceptionally thrilled and excited about this class," he said. "Not only will these young student-athletes bring incredible gifts and physical talent to Baylor, but they also bring an already strong friendship, bond, and character that will shine brightly for years to come. They are a great fit for our volleyball family, and I am confident their addition will multiply the joy. This class has every skill in our sport: great setting, serving, blocking, digging, passing, and attacking. These ladies are all competitive winners on the court and understand the value of servant-leadership off the court."
Halle Bills | Outside Hitter | 6'1"| Draper, Utah | Corner Canyon HS
The No. 4 overall player and the No. 3 outside in the state of Utah … Played for Mindy Ricks at Corner Canyon High School … Led Corner Canyon to fist 6A volleyball state title in school history in 2025 … Helped them to the semi-finals in 2023 and 2026 … Two-time all-state selection, including a first-team nod in 2024 … Two-time team captain … Regional Champion 2024 ... First-team All-Region 2024 ... All-State Honorable Mention 2023 ... First Team All-Region 2023 ... Deseret News Star Athlete of the Week 2025 ... One of the best six volleyball players in Utah by Deseret News her Junior Year ... Played for Club V, coached by Reed Carlson … Finished Fifth in the Nation in 2025 … Open Qualified with Club V three times (15u, 16u, 17u) ... Finished fifth at USAV Open National Championships her 17's season ... Top 20 Finish at USAV Open National Championships her 15's and 16's seasons ... Triple Open-Qualified her 17's season ... Captain for her 17u Club V team ... 2025 Under Armor Next Camp invitee … 2023 Academic State Champion … Member of the National Honors Society … Made the high honor roll in every quarter of her high school career … Plans to major in finance and/or business at Baylor … Daughter of Levi and Jessica Bills … Dad, Levi, played junior college football at Ricks College … Grandpa, Doug, played football for the University of Utah and Westminster College.
McGuyre on Bills: "Halle is a strong and beautiful athlete with a love for others and love for competition. She is a strong blocker with a heavy arm that can get on the ball quickly. She competes with a contagious enthusiasm and has exceptional vision for the court at such a young age. She will be an incredible weapon for us on both offense and defense."
Mya Hemmer | Middle Blocker | 6'1" | Ishpeming, Mich. | Ishpeming High School
No. 10 player in the state of Michigan … No. 5 middle blocker in the Wolverine State … Played for Katt Beerling at Ishpeming High School … Helped the Hematites to a 2023 district championship … 2025 Mid-Peninsula Conference Player of the Year … 2023 and 2025 All defensive team … 2025 West PAC player of the year … Led Ishpeming to a basketball state title in 2024 … Was named to the WestPac Girls Basketball Dream team … Played for Brett Damrow and FC Elite … Helped the Elite qualify for 18 Open in 2025 … Daughter of Amy and John Hemmer.
McGuyre on Hemmer: "Mya is an incredible fit for Baylor volleyball. She is a strong and physical athlete with a powerful arm and explosiveness. She is an extremely dedicated and determined athlete with a selfless attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes. She will bring additional blocking and strength to the middle position."
Julianna Hernandez | Libero | 5'6"| Frisco, Texas | Memorial High School
The No. 45 player in the country … No. 4 Libero in the country … No. 11 ranked player overall, and top-rated libero in Texas … 2025 Under Armour All-American … 2025 Max Preps Senior Libero … Played for Jami Dover at Frisco Memorial … Holds Memorial High School's record for digs, digs per match, and aces … Four-year varsity letter-winner … Two-time team captain … 2025 Mansfield Invitational All-Tournament Team … two-time 10-5A defensive MVP … 2024 Dallas Morning News Sports Day HS Preseason All-Area Team … 2024 PrepVolleyball.com Lone Star Classic All-Tournament Team … Prepvolleyball.com 16 Club All-American honorable mention … 2023 AVCA Phenom Watch List … Prepvolleyball.com Club Season All-American … Started at libero as a sophomore, earning 10-5A Second Team All-District … Played for TAV Alumni under Jason Nicholson … Won two National Championships in the USAV open division … Won silver in the open division in 2022 (13u) and 2025 (17u) … Took Gold in the open division in 2021 and the national division in 2019 … National Honor Society ... 2025 Chicken Express Scholar ... 2025 Academic All-District ... 2024 Academic All-District ... 2023 Academic All-District ... 2022 Academic All-District … Daughter of Guy and Theresa Hernandez … Plans to major in business/pre-law at Baylor.
McGuyre on Hernandez: "Jules competes and plays with a deeply instilled growl, grit, and joy. Her instinct and volleyball IQ are very strong. She understands the little things that make big things happen and is relentless in her ability to pass and defend. She will bring elite-level skills and strength to our program. Her character is unwavering, and her charisma on and off the court is incredibly contagious. She is a warrior on defense and an even stronger teammate. Her faith and fierceness will be a blessing to Baylor Volleyball."
Nadiya Johnson | Outside Hitter | 6'2" | Ashburn, Va. | Riverside High School
No. 38 ranked player in the country … 21st-ranked outside hitter in the country … No. 1 player overall in the state of Virginia … Played at Riverside High School for Reggie Ruiz … Played with Metro Volleyball Club of DC under Silvia Johnson … Included on the 2025 AVCA Girls High School Player of the Year Watchlist … Under Armor Next All-American … Four-year varsity letterwinner at Riverside High School… 2024 First Team All-District … 2024 Second-Team All-Region … Led the Rams to a district, region and state championship in 2024 … Named to the U.S. Girls U19 National Team roster in 2024 … 2024 Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention … Prep Volleyball named her to its 16U Second Team All-Americans list … 2023 All-Conference Second Team SMAC … A member of the National Honor Society … Plans to major in biology at Baylor … Daughter of Dee Dee and Anthony Johnson.
McGuyre on Johnson: "Nadiya is an explosive and high-flying athlete, with an ability to make an immediate impact on the court with her strong blocking and dynamic attacking skills. Her national team experience and continued growth have earned her the mantle as one of the top players in the country. A driven competitor and an impressive teammate, Nadiya leads with character and a servant-hearted love, personifying the core values of Baylor. She is one our fans will love to watch, and young athletes will be inspired by. She is sure to leave a lasting impact on our program and off the court."
Abby Schone | Setter | 5'11" | Wentzville, Missouri | Timberland High School
No. 5 player overall and the No. 1 setter in the state of Missouri … No. 166 player in the country overall … Played for Nathan Harman at Timberland High School … Competed for the Rockwood thunder under the direction of Matt Kalisiak … Two-time All-State Honoree … Three-time All-District honoree … 2025 All-State Team … All-conference First Team Selection in 2023 and 24 … Helped her team to a conference championship in 2024 … Academic All-Conference in high school … 2024 Under Armour Next Camp Invitee … Former Prep Volleyball 15U All-American … AVCA Phenom list … Was a member of High School Honors … Plans to Major in business at Baylor … Daughter of Koreen and Brian.
McGuyre on Schone: "Abby is a strong and experienced setter who knows how to run the court and distribute the ball. She competes well above the net and moves quickly. Her hands, touch, and leadership as a setter are outstanding. Her character and conduct also exemplify the core values of Baylor, and her faithfulness and self-discipline make her a reliable teammate, crucial attributes for someone we see leading this program in the future."
Lacy Tinnell | Middle Blocker | 6'4" | The Woodlands, Texas | College Park High School
Played for Candice Collins at College Park High School … Played Club for Houston Skyline … Holds College Park Volleyball's All-Time Kill Record ... 2024 GHVCA Post-Season Team Class 6A ... Helped the Cavalier's to the 2024 State semi-finals … 2024 First Team All-District, District 13-6A ... 2024 College Park Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year ... 2023 GHVCA Post-Season Team Class 6A ... 2023 First Team All-District, District 13-6A ... 2023 College Park Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year ... 2022 First Team All-District, District 13-6A ... 2022 Newcomer of the Year, District 13-6A ... 2022 College Park Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year … Houston Skyline 17 Royal: 17 Open National Champions (2025) ... A member of National Honor Society ... College Park Ambassador ... 2024 GHVCA Post-Season Academic Team ... 2024 District 13-6A Academic All-District ... 2023 District 13-6A Academic All-District ... 2022 District 13-6A Academic All-District ... 2022-2023 Student of the Year, Rotary Club of The Woodlands … Plans to major in health, kinesiology & leisure studies at Baylor … Daughter of Christy and Robert Tinnell.
McGuyre on Tinnell: "Lacy is an elite-level experienced middle blocker who knows how to win. She competes with competitive composure, an exceptional volleyball IQ and leadership that is off the charts. She is mature beyond her years and invests her time and energy in the right things with incredible consistency. Lacy's relentlessness will make her an immediate factor for us as both a defensive wall and offensive threat."
—Baylorbears.com—
