ARLINGTON, Texas – Senior Evyn Snook and junior Erica Dellesky will lead UTA Volleyball as team captains for the 2026 season, head coach Tania Schatow announced Friday.
 
For Snook, the honor represents a big step in a four-year journey with the Mavericks. For Dellesky, it comes just months after arriving in Arlington as a transfer from Virginia Tech.
 
While their paths to captaincy are different, both girls enter the 2026 season focused on the same thing: helping UTA establish itself in its new conference [UAC] and making the most of the season ahead.
 
Two Different Paths to Leadership
A four-year Maverick, Snook enters her senior season after recording 171 kills, 101 digs and 27 service aces in 2025. The Magnolia, Texas native was also part of UTA's 2024 WAC Championship team.
 
"Evyn is entering her senior season and has been someone that all the girls look up to. She is a leader that gives a calm presence to the court that is needed and always there to help her teammates." Schatow said.  "She helps lead this team in a multitude of ways and I look forward to seeing her continue to help this team grow and leave her mark on this program."  
 
Dellesky's path to captaincy looks a little different. The Katy, Texas native joined the Mavericks after two seasons at Virginia Tech, where she recorded 445 assists and 16 service aces last season.
 
"Erica has made an immediate impact on this program since the first day she stepped on campus. She is one of the hardest workers in the gym and celebrates her teammates any chance she can." Schatow said. "She truly is the epitome of a team player. I could not be happier to have her labeled as one of the captains for this Fall season. Very well deserved!" 
 
Q&A With the Captains
EVYN SNOOK
 
How do you feel like your role has changed heading into the season?
"Oh my gosh…I feel like so much has changed even from my freshman year when I was playing more of a supportive role to now being one of the ones relaying messages from our coaches, leading practice and communicating with everyone in those big moments. So just getting to lead from a platform has been really cool and I feel like going into this season that's one of my main job descriptions."

What excites you most about this team and what's one word you'd use to describe this team?
"What excites me so far is the amount of growth we've seen. With our newcomers buying into our systems, just taking on whatever we're saying. Like this is how we play, this is why we play, and this is what we're expected to do, and they've just bought into everything from the very beginning."
 
"One word I'd use to describe this team would be resilient. We have a lot of depth, a lot of numbers and a lot of different personalities that mesh really well to push each other. The competition within each position is not only going to push our team further but each individual person in that position group further, so I think we're going to have a really resilient team."
 
What personal goals do you have for the season and what goals do you have for the team?
"This is my last six months to play the sport I've been playing for 15 years and so I really want to go out with a bang! I want to just enjoy every moment, not put too much pressure on it, because at the end of the day, it's a game that I love to play. Really, I want to do whatever it takes to help our team win. Whether that's me on the court or cheering my butt off on the sidelines."
 
"As a team goal, obviously we want to win our brand-new conference [UAC]. We want to win the regular season and the tournament, but we really just want to put on a good performance and put all our training to use and show what this team can actually do."
 
ERICA DELLESKY
 
Why was UTA the right fit for you? How has the transition to Arlington been like?
"When I went into the transfer portal, I wanted something closer to home. I felt so blessed when UTA reached out to me and immediately I connected so well with the coaches. I really liked what they were building here. I loved my visit. They took me to so many restaurants…they were really awesome to my family and genuinely wanted to get to know me so I thought that was awesome, and I couldn't ask for a better place. I'm happy I'm here."
 
What has been the biggest challenge you've had to overcome in the course of your career?
"Last spring, the whole entire spring when I got here, I had strep throat the entire semester. Gina [Giammanco] and Tania said that I should get a tonsillectomy and I did. And now about two months later, this is the healthiest I've been…Other than that, finding a team that has a really good culture. That was something that was lacking at my old school and I feel like this team and this coaching staff has a really good culture and wants to continue to build on that."
 
What motivates you on difficult days—practice days or game days?
"I think for sure understanding how much of a blessing it is to be here and looking back at when I was younger playing volleyball, it just makes me so proud, because little Erica would've never expected to be here. I think using every day in the gym as an opportunity to get better, to learn and grow; Even pushing through the bad days you have, I think it's super important to understand how much of a blessing it is to compete at this level."
 
What are you looking forward to most this season?
"I'm looking forward to stepping into more of a leadership role. As a setter, you're kinda like the quarterback on the court.  In the spring, I got to build those connections with my hitters, and I thought it was a really successful spring and I want to continue to build on that going into the fall."
  
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