Keeping a calm mind proved to be the key for American import Erica Staunton as she led Creamline to a nail-biting four-set victory over Galeries Tower in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference.
Staunton needed to dig deep, delivering a standout performance to help the Cool Smashers escape the hard-fighting Highrisers in a thrilling four-set triumph, 27-25, 26-28, 29-27, 25-19.
This win marked their third victory in four games at the Philsports Arena on Saturday night.
“I realized that it’s important to stay calm and settle down between points. Even with long rallies, energy and nerves can escalate,” said the 23-year-old winger.
The Georgia University product emphasized the importance of resetting her mind between rallies to maintain focus during such an intense match.
(C) PVL Images
“Just making sure to reset between each point so you can enter the next one with a clear mind and focus on the essentials,” Staunton shared.
The former Northeastern University star scored 29 points – her highest output in the PVL – on 25 attacks, three blocks, and one ace.
She also had five excellent digs to help Creamline secure the crucial victory and take the lead in Pool A with a 3-1 record.
Staunton also acknowledged the Highrisers for their strong performance, which forced three extended sets against the reigning All-Filipino Conference champions.
“It feels really good. This was a super important game. I don’t think we ever felt we had it in the bag. Galeries put up a great fight,” she said.
“Their defense was impressive. We just tried to stay aggressive and trust our system, playing clean volleyball. We knew they wouldn’t make many errors, so we had to minimize our own mistakes.”
