It is common for a lot of volleyball guest players to come back to the Philippines. Aside from the beautiful vacation spots, foreign players often become enamored by the indigenous passion of Filipino fans.
One such player is the towering Laura Shaudt. Previously, the Oregon native had played in the Philippine Superliga for the Cignal HD Spikers.
When an opportunity to return and play for the Creamline Cool Smashers came, Schaudt knew immediately she wanted to come back, drawn by the Pinoys’ fervor for volleyball.
“When I was here the first time, I fell in love with how much the people here love volleyball,” Schaudt recalled.
“It’s fun to play here and it’s fun to be an import here because people care. They come to games, they’re passionate. It’s a good place to play and I enjoyed it.”
The former Oregon State Beaver also wanted to put on a better performance than the last time she was here when Cignal finished last in the 2016 PSL Grand Prix.
“I kinda wanted another round to have personal redemption,” the 25-year-old said.
Currently, her Creamline Cool Smashers are in the quarterfinals in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference. And for them to advance to the semifinals, Schaudt needs to post numbers above her 15 points per match average.
Still, Schaudt thinks the Cool Smashers have a ways to go before reaching their peak, but they’re getting there with every match they play.
“Our goal as a team is to just keep improving every chance we get. Every opportunity we have on the floor, we have to work our hardest, learn how to play more as a team every time.
“So I think today was a good example of that escalating from our last game,” the six-foot-five opposite hitter expressed after Creamline’s four set win over Perlas.
With Creamline, Schaudt is experiencing an amplified passion from local fans as she’s playing with one of the best and most popular players in the country, Alyssa Valdez. A section of Valdez’s fans have taken to cheering for Schaudt and she’s grateful for their support.
“So we get part of her [Valdez] fanbase, definitely. A lot of supporters for her and understandably so because she’s a great player. She has a great résumé behind her name.
“It’s been fun that we have her fanbase and other people supporting Creamline. It’s so fun to play volleyball for people who care, watch, and cheer for you,” Schaudt mused.
While volleyball does have a following in America, Schaudt says that the volleyball passion is incomparable to the Philippines, the only other place she’s played.
“Filipino fans are just on another level.
“It’s big in some places in the States but not others. It’s fun playing here and it would definitely be fun if fans in the States saw how fans are here,” the guest player declared.
