EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Since arriving to the University of Evansville before the 2025 season, head coach Zach Weinberg has brought in a new level of talent that is evident when his teams take the floor. Another step forward was taken today with the signing of five players for the 2027 season.
 
"Our staff is incredibly excited to add this very talented class to our family. With one player in each of the 5 main position groups, this is a well-rounded class who we know will hit the ground running to begin their Aces career," Weinberg said. "All of them are completely bought into the vision of the program and are committed to helping us get to where we all know we can go! Getting 5 players from 5 different states across the Midwest and Mid-South proves how attractive the University of Evansville is in the region, and we're so glad that Campbell, Sophie, Halle, Alyce and Heritage are choosing to make the River City their home!"
 
Campbell Capece- Libero, Omaha, NE
 
Making her way to Evansville from Omaha, Neb. is Campbell Capece. A 4-year starter and letterwinner at Omaha Marian, Capece has recorded 470 kills, 204 service aces, 1,251 digs, and 127 assists in her high school career. On the individual side, Capece is a 2-time All-Metro Conference player and a 2-time Second Team All-State Nebraska honoree. Her team advanced to states on two occasions including the semifinals in her senior season.
 
Coach Weinberg on Capece
"Campbell is a competitor in every definition of the word. Growing up with 3 older brothers who all played sports at a high level, she's been in a competitive environment her whole life, and it shows when you watch her play. She is a fearless defender, and her serve receive will upgrade our gym immediately. She's also an elite out-of-system setter and can find attackers from all over the court with her accuracy. Adding Campbell into our current liberos is going to make for an incredible fun position group, and I'm excited to watch them all push each other to improve. Welcome, Campbell!"
 
Sophie Easterday- Middle Blocker, Soddy Daisy, TN
 
Sophie Easterday comes to Evansville from east Tennessee where she played four years of volleyball at Silverdale Baptist Academy. She was the most efficient hitter in the state of Tennessee across all divisions as a junior (.452) and senior (.440). Easterday was a AVCA All-American in 2026 while being named an All-State player in 2025 and 2026. She was a 4-time All-District honoree and 3-time AVAC Phenom Watchlist player. Easterday has been invited to the National team Development Program.
 
Coach Weinberg on Easterday
"I first saw Sophie play at a camp when she was 15, and it was clear even then how physical a volleyball player she was going to be. She has refined her game into that of a complete Middle Blocker, someone who is going to be able to generate offense and block for points. We put an emphasis in this class on becoming more physical as a team, and Sophie embodies that. Welcome, Sophie!"  
 
Halle Recker-Setter, Jasper, IN
 
Joining the Purple Aces from nearby Jasper, Ind. is Halle Recker. The setter was a First-Team Southern Indiana Athletic Conference honoree in 2025 and 2026 while garnering IHSVCA Class 3A Second-Team All-State and All-District recognition in 2026. Recker accumulated 1,097 assists as a senior at Jasper HS after posting 1,023 in her junior campaign. In the 202 Class 3A regional victory she set the Jasper HS record with 58 assists. Her team won the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference in 2026 while winning Class 3A regionals in 2025 and 2026.
 
Coach Weinberg on Recker
"Anytime there is a local player who can help us, we want to keep them home, and we're so glad we were able to with Halle! Halle is the definition of a calming presence on the court. She is a very cerebral setter and consistently puts her attackers in good positions. She will be a great compliment to Carsyn, and I'm really excited to see how the two of them make each other better. Welcome, Halle!"
 
Alyce Norton- Outside Hitter, Dalton, GA
 
Alyce Norton is an outside hitter from Dalton, Ga. where she played for Coahulla Creek HS. She earned multiple accolades in 2026 including AVCA All-American Watchlist, AVCA Best and Brightest First Team, AVCA All-Region, GVCA 3A All-State First Team, GVCA Senior All-Star, and GHSA Regino 7-AAA Player of the Year. Norton completed the 2026 campaign with 641 kills, an average of 5.9 per set. In the 2026 GHSA State Quarterfinals, she finished with 23 kills in a 4-set victory over Pierce County.
 
Coach Weinberg on Norton
"Alyce's ceiling is sky high, and I'm excited to help her reach it! Another incredibly physical attacker, Alyce has a cannon of a right arm and has taken her overall game to a different level in the last 6 months. She was 2^nd in the entire state of Georgia this season in kills and has recently been invited into the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program (NTDP). A future engineer, Alyce is analytical and methodical, and I'm pumped to see that translate to the court. Welcome, Alyce!"
 
Heritage Smith - Rightside Hitter, Bone Gap, IL
 
Heritage Smith comes to Evansville from southern Illinois. She played three seasons of volleyball with her top team performances being a 3^rd place in 17 Open at the Bluegrass Tournament and a first place in 17 Open at Prep Dig Gauntlet Tournament.
 
Coach Weinberg on Smith
"Another local player from just across the border in Southern Illinois, Heritage is a late bloomer whose game has jumped tremendously in the last year. Her commitment to her craft is unquestioned, as evidence by the fact that she would drive 3 hours each direction just to play club volleyball in Indianapolis and train at a high level. While still learning the rightside position, Heritage adds positional size to our right pin, and her heavy arm and high ceiling as a blocker will play great over there. Heritage is graduating from high school early and enrolling as an Ace this spring, and I'm really excited to get her acclimated to the program and start training her right away. Welcome, Heritage!"