Arkansas Volleyball Signs Three Athletes for 2026
Arkansas Volleyball added a libero, an outside hitter and a middle blocker on National Signing Day, with the class joining work already underway in Barnhill.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Volleyball
Arkansas Volleyball signed Gemma Hopkins, Ashley Troxell and Evelyn Venters on National Signing Day. The three athletes put pen to paper as part of the program's 2026 recruiting class.
Why it matters
The signings add a libero, an outside hitter and a middle blocker to the Razorbacks' roster for the coming seasons. Head coach Jason Watson said the class complements work already ongoing in Barnhill.
Hopkins recorded 2,148 career digs at Tomball High School, while Venters set the Bentonville High School career block record at 396. Their collegiate performance has not yet been reported.
The players
Arkansas Volleyball
The University of Arkansas women's volleyball program, which competes in the Southeastern Conference and plays its home matches in Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville.
Jason Watson
The head coach of Arkansas Volleyball, who oversees the program's recruiting and on-court development.
The details
Gemma Hopkins, a libero from Tomball, Texas, was named the No. 15 overall recruit in the PrepVolleyball Top 150 last spring. Ashley Troxell, an outside hitter from Buford, Georgia, and Evelyn Venters, a middle blocker from Bentonville, Arkansas, round out the class.
Timeline
November 11, 2026: Arkansas Volleyball signs three athletes on National Signing Day.
2026: Venters sets Bentonville's single-season blocks record with 140.
Season Trajectory
The signings extend Arkansas Volleyball's recruiting cycle, which runs each year through the National Signing Day period. The class adds depth at libero, outside hitter and middle blocker as the program builds toward future seasons.
The signees will join Arkansas Volleyball's roster for future seasons, shaping the depth chart at libero, outside hitter and middle blocker. Fans following the Razorbacks can track how these recruits develop in Barnhill Arena.
The takeaway
Signing classes like this one show how high school production in the state's and region's top programs becomes a foundation for college rosters. Following these recruits will reveal how quickly that production transfers to the next level.
Further reading
Explore more in Volleyball for the latest on programs and recruiting across the sport.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Arkansas Razorbacks.
