High School: Eckels is a four-year volleyball letterwinner at Mount Notre Dame High School, where she was a teammate of fellow Eagle Megan Rohlfs. As the team captain, Eckels was named to the Girls Greater Cincinnati League First Team and All-Cincinnati Second Team. She was also given the MVP award and an Excellence in Offense honor.

Personal: Eckels is the daughter of Mike and Margy Eckels. She is a physical therapy major.