At just 23 years old, Erica Staunton has already made a name for herself in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), becoming one of the most decorated imports in its history.
In her first professional stint, Staunton played a pivotal role in leading the Creamline Cool Smashers to back-to-back championships in the 2024 season, securing both the Reinforced Conference and Invitational titles. Her contributions were crucial in Creamline's historic Grand Slam, a feat that etched her name into PVL history.
Staunton’s journey to the Grand Slam started on September 4, when she helped Creamline capture the 2024 Reinforced Conference title. Just a week later, she endured a grueling schedule to guide the team to the Invitational crown, completing their Grand Slam quest.
Despite the incredible achievement, Staunton remains humble, crediting her team more than her individual efforts.
“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 earned the Best Outside Spiker award in the Invitational Conference. “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."
The American wing spiker’s humility is striking, especially considering her stellar performance in the gold medal match against Cignal. Staunton stepped up when it mattered most, scoring a team-high 29 points in a hard-fought five-set victory, showcasing her ability to deliver under pressure. While she may not have been the most powerful import the PVL has ever seen, her relentless effort and smart play made her invaluable to the Cool Smashers’ success.
A Business Analytics graduate, Staunton sees her time with Creamline as more than just a professional milestone; it's a learning experience.
Despite the demanding schedule—five matches in seven days during the Invitationals—she found strength in her teammates. She revealed that it was the local players who inspired her to keep going, even on the toughest days.
“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. “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.”
Staunton’s respect for her teammates and the program’s winning culture has left a lasting impression on her.
She knows that her experience with Creamline has set the bar high for the rest of her career, and she plans to carry those lessons forward, using the Cool Smashers’ work ethic as her blueprint for future success.
