COOL, calm, collected, and a very competitive champion club.
This is how pro volleyball debutant Erica Staunton described Creamline, the team she joined a few months ago that left her in awe of its professionalism and resiliency in the face of adversity.
The 23-year-old American spiker had her first taste of overseas play with no less than the nine-time PVL champion which she described as very competitive.
Staunton is also heartened by the healthy competition within the team which the players carry to the court when they go up against other teams.
But despite still being undermanned, having lost three stars to injuries and call ups from the national team, its champion-caliber spirit enabled the Cool Smashers to rule the Reinforced Conference less than a week ago and stand a few more wins away from the PVL’s first-ever Grand Slam.
And as the competition gets tougher with a tighter schedule ahead, Staunton knows they’re more than up and ready for what’s to come in the road to a 10th championship title.
“I’m very proud but honestly this is just such a hardworking team and it’s just full of competitors. There are quick turnarounds between games but like I said, everybody’s a competitor so I’m pretty ready for it,” said Staunton.
‘When push comes to shove’
In total, Staunton has played 13 games in roughly nine weeks with Creamline across both Reinforced and Invitational Conferences.
But Staunton isn’t letting the physical fatigue get in the way as they prepare for their next battle. Mental toughness, she said, could make them go over the hump.
“I think I’m sure that everybody is a little tired. But I think at this point, it’s kind of a mental battle. We just really need to check in on our mental toughness,” Staunton said.
“When push comes to shove, everybody’s gonna be able to step up and fight any fatigue that we’re feeling.”
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