Erica Staunton contributed significantly to Creamline’s back-to-back championships in the Premier Volleyball League, making her one of the most decorated imports to ever play in the league.
She led the Cool Smashers to the 2024 Reinforced Conference title on September 4, before enduring a grueling week that culminated in the Invitational title just a week later.
But thanks to that, Creamline secured the Grand Slam.
Staunton achieved all this at just 23 years old, in her first professional stint.
However, for the American wing spiker, it’s more about Creamline than herself. In her words, she simply “lucked out.”
“I am excited, but like I said, just lucky and blessed that I’ve come into a program that has known such success, and just kind of been able to do my job to help with these last two championships,” said Staunton, who won Best Outside Spiker in the Invitationals.
“So yeah, I think I just really lucked out in my first pro stint, having such a great team that knows what it takes to win and works hard every day.”
Staunton, a Business Analytics graduate, may not have been the most powerful import in the league. Still, she stepped up during the gold medal match against Cignal, scoring a team-high 29 points in a hard-fought five-set victory.
With this being her first professional league, Staunton is sure to cherish the experience as she moves forward in her career, learning from the 10-time PVL champions.
She revealed that during the Invitationals, where they played five matches in seven days, it was the local Cool Smashers players who inspired her to keep going.
And now, the rewards have come. Staunton’s name is synonymous with winning in the PVL.
“I was really able to look to them for inspiration, and even on the hard days, just knowing that they’re pushing themselves and competing to win championships every day,” Staunton shared, noting her appreciation for the fans.
“That is something I’ll carry with me throughout the rest of my career – working hard, pushing myself, even on days when I’m tired and don’t want to wake up for practice. That’s something that really inspired me.”
