University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Steven Spehar
Prater Welcomes Nine to 2026 Signing Class
Nov 14, 2025 | Softball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Softball head coach Trena Prater announced nine student-athletes that have signed to play softball starting in the 2027 season. The class of nine spans six states and includes multiple connections between the student-athletes through their club teams.
"Overall, this 2026 recruiting class is packed with a lot of speed and two-way impact players," Prater said. "They will come in and make an instant impact for us to be a championship-contending team."
Aniya Arnold | Freshman | Shortstop | Arkansas High School | Texarkana, Ark.
Arnold joins the Tigers after a successful prep career at Arkansas High School. The current three-time 5A South All-State and All-Conference selection was also named to the 2024 5A South All-Tournament team and 2025 Academic All-State team and is teammates with 2026 signees Kaylyn Arnold and Kylee Lawrence on the D1VISION 18U National Team.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Aniya will be fun to watch blossom over the next four years. She reminds me of myself on the base paths and in the outfield. She plays the game with elite instinct and passion, and she will be an impact player both offensively and defensively."
Kaylyn Arnold | Freshman | Catcher/1st Base | Douglas County High School | Douglasville, Ga.
Arnold, a four-year letterwinner at Douglas County High School, joins Aniya Arnold and Kylee Lawrence as one of three 2026 signees from the D1VISION 18U National Team. During her prep career, Arnold was a two-time Douglas County Silver Slugger award winner, a three-time 1st team all-region selection and earned the Douglas County Superintendent's Scholar Award.
Arnold also became the first female student-athlete at Douglas County High School to sign a Name, Image & Likeness deal.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Kaylyn is a gritty, high-energy player. She has a high softball IQ as a left-handed catcher and first baseman. Offensively, I expect that she will put up some high power numbers for us."
Violet Espin | Freshman | Infielder | Riverside Polytechnic High School | Riverside, Calif.
Espin joins the Tigers after helping Riverside Polytechnic High School to two league championships in 2023 and 2024. In her time as a Bear, Espin currently holds a .283 batting average with 37 RBI and 56 runs scored, while also having won her team's Defensive Player of the Year award during her junior season.
Espin is currently club teammates with fellow Memphis signee, Miranda Mease.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Violet is a defensive specialist. She takes pride in her defense and enjoys being a leader. She is a competitor that always wants to win. Offensively, she is going to be a gap-to-gap hitter for us that scores a lot of runs."
C.C. Hall | Freshman | 1st Base/Outfielder | Perry High School | Gilbert, Ariz.
Hall comes to Memphis after a prep career at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona. Most recently in her junior season, Hall was named to the 6A All-Region and All-CUSD First Teams. Additionally, Hall helped Arizona Storm Mendez to a 2024 Top Gun Invitational Championship.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "C.C. is an athletic lefty first baseman that plays with a lot of energy. She is a kid that will run through a wall for her teammates and will do whatever it takes to win. She is a lefty hitter that will spray to the gaps with singles, doubles and will sneak in a triple every now and then with her speed."
Dekya Harris | Freshman | Infielder | Granby High School | Norfolk, Va.
Harris comes to Memphis after a successful prep career at Granby High School, located in the Tidewater region of Virginia. She's earned five letters, two in track and three in softball, and has helped lead the Comets to three district championships in 2023-25, as well as a regional championship in 2024. Harris is a three-time first team all-district selection, two-time second team all-state selection and a three-time all-region selection, being named to the first team in 2023 and 2024.
Harris' sister, Destiny, is currently a sophomore outfielder on the LSU softball team.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Dekya is a highly athletic young lady. She is a strong middle infielder that can also play the outfield. She is going to bring a big bat to our lineup and speed on the bases."
Lauren Jordan | Freshman | Outfielder | Union Grove High School | McDonough, Ga.
Jordan joins Memphis after earning four letters in softball at Union Grove High School. The 2024 All-Georgia State Second Team selection helped the Wolverines to a 21-8 record, and she led the team with 23 stolen bases in the fall 2025 season. Jordan is also a three-time All-Region selection, earning second team honors in 2022 and 2023, along with first team recognition in 2024.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Lauren will be the fastest player on our roster. She is a phenomenal outfielder that is going to leave her feet and get dirty to catch any ball in the grass. She is a triple-threat lefty that is going to give defenses a lot of trouble."
Kylee Lawrence | Freshman | Pitcher/Infielder | Eastside High School | Jackson, Ga.
A two-sport letterwinner in softball and basketball at Eastside High School, Lawrence joins Memphis' 2026 signing class. In her time as an Eagle, Lawrence has been named to the 3A All-Region team twice and 3A All-State Second Team once while also being named to the 4A All-Region and All-State teams in her most recent season. Additionally, she is a two-time Pitcher of the Year and was named a Scholar-Athlete by maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Lawrence is also teammates with 2026 signees Aniya Arnold and Kaylyn Arnold on the D1VISION 18U National Team.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Kylee is a utility pitcher that can play anywhere in the infield. She always competes with a champion's mindset on both offense and defense. She will be a huge asset to our pitching staff."
Ava Marks | Freshman | Infielder | Corinth Holders High School | Clayton, N.C.
Marks comes to Memphis after a highly decorated prep career at Corinth Holders High School. The Clayton, North Carolina native earned eight letters across softball, tennis and flag football. In softball, Marks was a two-time North Carolina 4A All-State and All-Conference selection, while also being a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree.
She also was a 2024 4A All-Conference and Academic All-Conference selection in both tennis and flag football. Marks also helped Corinth Holders win two conference championships in tennis in 2023 and 2024.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Ava is an elite athlete on both sides of the ball. She is a lockdown shortstop that is a vocal leader on the field. Offensively, she is going to pick apart defenses with her short game and power slaps."
Miranda Mease | Freshman | Outfielder | Valley View High School | Moreno Valley, Calif.
Mease joins the Tigers as one of two signees from the Golden State, with the Moreno Valley, California native prepping at Valley View High School. Mease was a four-year letterwinner and earned all-league honors in 2024 and 2025, while also helping the Eagles to League Championships in 2024 and 2025.
Mease signs with her club teammate from The Vault Fastpitch, Violet Espin.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Miranda has one of the best outfield arms that I have seen in a long time. She is smooth with everything that she does in the outfield and in the box. She is small, but offensively, she is going to surprise a lot of teams with her power potential, while also being a speed threat on the bases."
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tigers Softball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
"Overall, this 2026 recruiting class is packed with a lot of speed and two-way impact players," Prater said. "They will come in and make an instant impact for us to be a championship-contending team."
Aniya Arnold | Freshman | Shortstop | Arkansas High School | Texarkana, Ark.
Arnold joins the Tigers after a successful prep career at Arkansas High School. The current three-time 5A South All-State and All-Conference selection was also named to the 2024 5A South All-Tournament team and 2025 Academic All-State team and is teammates with 2026 signees Kaylyn Arnold and Kylee Lawrence on the D1VISION 18U National Team.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Aniya will be fun to watch blossom over the next four years. She reminds me of myself on the base paths and in the outfield. She plays the game with elite instinct and passion, and she will be an impact player both offensively and defensively."
Kaylyn Arnold | Freshman | Catcher/1st Base | Douglas County High School | Douglasville, Ga.
Arnold, a four-year letterwinner at Douglas County High School, joins Aniya Arnold and Kylee Lawrence as one of three 2026 signees from the D1VISION 18U National Team. During her prep career, Arnold was a two-time Douglas County Silver Slugger award winner, a three-time 1st team all-region selection and earned the Douglas County Superintendent's Scholar Award.
Arnold also became the first female student-athlete at Douglas County High School to sign a Name, Image & Likeness deal.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Kaylyn is a gritty, high-energy player. She has a high softball IQ as a left-handed catcher and first baseman. Offensively, I expect that she will put up some high power numbers for us."
Violet Espin | Freshman | Infielder | Riverside Polytechnic High School | Riverside, Calif.
Espin joins the Tigers after helping Riverside Polytechnic High School to two league championships in 2023 and 2024. In her time as a Bear, Espin currently holds a .283 batting average with 37 RBI and 56 runs scored, while also having won her team's Defensive Player of the Year award during her junior season.
Espin is currently club teammates with fellow Memphis signee, Miranda Mease.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Violet is a defensive specialist. She takes pride in her defense and enjoys being a leader. She is a competitor that always wants to win. Offensively, she is going to be a gap-to-gap hitter for us that scores a lot of runs."
C.C. Hall | Freshman | 1st Base/Outfielder | Perry High School | Gilbert, Ariz.
Hall comes to Memphis after a prep career at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona. Most recently in her junior season, Hall was named to the 6A All-Region and All-CUSD First Teams. Additionally, Hall helped Arizona Storm Mendez to a 2024 Top Gun Invitational Championship.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "C.C. is an athletic lefty first baseman that plays with a lot of energy. She is a kid that will run through a wall for her teammates and will do whatever it takes to win. She is a lefty hitter that will spray to the gaps with singles, doubles and will sneak in a triple every now and then with her speed."
Dekya Harris | Freshman | Infielder | Granby High School | Norfolk, Va.
Harris comes to Memphis after a successful prep career at Granby High School, located in the Tidewater region of Virginia. She's earned five letters, two in track and three in softball, and has helped lead the Comets to three district championships in 2023-25, as well as a regional championship in 2024. Harris is a three-time first team all-district selection, two-time second team all-state selection and a three-time all-region selection, being named to the first team in 2023 and 2024.
Harris' sister, Destiny, is currently a sophomore outfielder on the LSU softball team.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Dekya is a highly athletic young lady. She is a strong middle infielder that can also play the outfield. She is going to bring a big bat to our lineup and speed on the bases."
Lauren Jordan | Freshman | Outfielder | Union Grove High School | McDonough, Ga.
Jordan joins Memphis after earning four letters in softball at Union Grove High School. The 2024 All-Georgia State Second Team selection helped the Wolverines to a 21-8 record, and she led the team with 23 stolen bases in the fall 2025 season. Jordan is also a three-time All-Region selection, earning second team honors in 2022 and 2023, along with first team recognition in 2024.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Lauren will be the fastest player on our roster. She is a phenomenal outfielder that is going to leave her feet and get dirty to catch any ball in the grass. She is a triple-threat lefty that is going to give defenses a lot of trouble."
Kylee Lawrence | Freshman | Pitcher/Infielder | Eastside High School | Jackson, Ga.
A two-sport letterwinner in softball and basketball at Eastside High School, Lawrence joins Memphis' 2026 signing class. In her time as an Eagle, Lawrence has been named to the 3A All-Region team twice and 3A All-State Second Team once while also being named to the 4A All-Region and All-State teams in her most recent season. Additionally, she is a two-time Pitcher of the Year and was named a Scholar-Athlete by maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Lawrence is also teammates with 2026 signees Aniya Arnold and Kaylyn Arnold on the D1VISION 18U National Team.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Kylee is a utility pitcher that can play anywhere in the infield. She always competes with a champion's mindset on both offense and defense. She will be a huge asset to our pitching staff."
Ava Marks | Freshman | Infielder | Corinth Holders High School | Clayton, N.C.
Marks comes to Memphis after a highly decorated prep career at Corinth Holders High School. The Clayton, North Carolina native earned eight letters across softball, tennis and flag football. In softball, Marks was a two-time North Carolina 4A All-State and All-Conference selection, while also being a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree.
She also was a 2024 4A All-Conference and Academic All-Conference selection in both tennis and flag football. Marks also helped Corinth Holders win two conference championships in tennis in 2023 and 2024.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Ava is an elite athlete on both sides of the ball. She is a lockdown shortstop that is a vocal leader on the field. Offensively, she is going to pick apart defenses with her short game and power slaps."
Miranda Mease | Freshman | Outfielder | Valley View High School | Moreno Valley, Calif.
Mease joins the Tigers as one of two signees from the Golden State, with the Moreno Valley, California native prepping at Valley View High School. Mease was a four-year letterwinner and earned all-league honors in 2024 and 2025, while also helping the Eagles to League Championships in 2024 and 2025.
Mease signs with her club teammate from The Vault Fastpitch, Violet Espin.
Coach Prater's Thoughts: "Miranda has one of the best outfield arms that I have seen in a long time. She is smooth with everything that she does in the outfield and in the box. She is small, but offensively, she is going to surprise a lot of teams with her power potential, while also being a speed threat on the bases."
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tigers Softball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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