ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Head Coach Tania Schatow has announced the program's 2026 signing class, marking her first recruiting class at the helm of UTA Volleyball. The quartet of student-athletes hails from across the west, stretching from the snowy peaks of Colorado to the sun-soaked coasts of California. The class features Dixie Nessl, Lucy Tricco, Megan Dougherty and Morgan Stitzer.
 
"I am beyond excited to announce this 2026 signing class. When recruiting this class, it was imperative that we focused on getting kids that fully understood the culture we are building for the future and would fit into my coaching philosophy," said Schatow. "Each of these four athletes share an undeniable work ethic and desire to compete. These two characteristics are necessary to have a successful program, and I have big expectations for these four young ladies."

ABOUT THE RECRUITS
 
DIXIE NESSL
MB, 6-2
Sonora, Calif./Sonora HS
 
Dixie Nessl, a 6'2 middle blocker from Sonora, Calif., comes to UTA following an impressive career at Sonora High School and Rage Volleyball Club. A four-time honor roll student, Nessl earned TVL First-Team All-League and Mother Lode Academic All-League. She was also an Academic Block "S" award recipient, an honor given to students with a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher, ranked first in the state for hitting percentage among middle blockers (.436), while finishing second overall in the SAC-Joaquin Division 4.
 
"While coaching in California I met and worked with Dixie on several occasions. When I got the job here, she was one of the first phone calls I made," Schatow shared. "While coaching her I learned what a driven, coachable, and athletic athlete she was and was impressed with her ability to correct mistakes quickly after feedback. This is a rare quality to find, and she possesses this quality without question. I am excited to continue developing her game at the college level."
 
LUCY TRICCO
S, 5-11
Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit HS
Lucy Tricco, a 5'11 setter from Aurora, Colo., joins UTA after a standout career at Regis Jesuit High School and Front Range Volleyball Club. Tricco was named to the All-Aurora Team and earned second-team all-conference and first-team all-academic all-conference honors. A six-rotation player for one of Colorado's top-ranked club teams, she helped Front Range to a national bid three consecutive years and in her high school career, she has totaled more than 1,000 career assists.

"Lucy is a competitor through and through. She has experience both setting and attacking at the highest level in club. She possesses the ability to run the floor and be very active at the net while putting up a fantastic block," Schatow noted. "I really enjoy watching her compete, to put it simply. She has a winning mentality, and this is something very important for a program to be successful and something that makes her special."
 
MEGAN DOUGHERTY
OH, 6-2
San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS
Megan Dougherty, a 6'2 opposite hitter from San Clemente, Calif., joins UTA after a standout prep career at San Clemente High School, Prime Volleyball Club and A4 Volleyball Club. A three-time varsity scholar-athlete, she earned Student of the Year honors in a multitude of subjects and was a National Honor Society member. Doughtery helped lead A4 to the AAU 17 Spirit National Championship, where she was named AAU 17 Spirit MVP.

"I got the opportunity to watch Megan play early on during last year's club season and followed her journey till the end of her season and was beyond impressed with the growth I saw in a few short months," Schatow mentioned. "She is a self-motivated athlete and someone that also has versatility to play multiple positions. She has a physical presence at the net, with a fast arm swing and incredible reach. I see her doing great things here at UTA."
 
MORGAN STITZER
L/DS, 5-4
Broomfield, Colo./Stargate Charter School
Morgan Stitzer, a 5'4 libero and defensive specialist hailing from Broomfield, Colo., comes to UTA from Stargate Charter School, where she was a varsity captain and starting libero. A member of Colorado Skyline 17 Royal, she is a two-time Under Armour All-America Camp Series nominee and AVCA Phenom Watchlist selection (2023, 2024). Stitzer has recorded over 1,000 career digs and earned First Team All-Conference, All Conference Senior of the Year, Player of the Year and CHSAA All-State Honorable Mention honors.
 
"Morgan is a rare athlete that loves the game of volleyball and actively seeks out ways to get better. She is an athlete that works tirelessly to keep the ball off the floor and pushes her teammates to be better," Schatow emphasized. "We are lucky to have her joining the team in January, as she plans to graduate high school early. I am looking forward to working with her in the very near future."
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