Ex-Georgia standout to fill in for ‘borrowed’ Creamline stars

Erica Staunton is Creamline Cool Smashers’ import for the PVL Reinforced Conference. –CREAMLINE PHOTO

Aiming to finally win a PVL title that has been elusive for the past six seasons, Creamline has signed a versatile spiker in Erica Staunton for the Reinforced Conference that gets off the ground in the second week of July.

With two of its top offensive weapons on loan to the national women’s program, Creamline will obviously ask Staunton to fill a huge void, something she can potentially do with the scouting reports saying she is comfortable playing both the open and opposite spikers positions.

Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza, the Cool Smashers’ fearsome 1-2 punch, could miss a big chunk of the tournament to play for Alas Pilipinas FIVB Challenger Cup and SEA V.League.

The Cool Smashers, who have ruled the All-Filipino Conference in its last four editions, last won an import-laden tournament in 2018 when they were backstopped by Kuttika Kaewpin and Laura Schaudt also in the Reinforced Conference.

With less than a month left before the tournament starts, Staunton is the third import to find a team here after Kath Bell returns for another tour of duty with Chery Tiggo while PLDT brings in Elena Samoilenko.

The 6-foot-1 Staunton played for Georgia University in the US NCAA before having her first taste of pro action in Finland for Oriveden Ponnistus. She is just 23 years old and will be joining a really seasoned Creamline crew that has won a record eight titles.

Petro Gazz is the defending champion, although the Angels have yet to announce if it is bringing back Lindsey Vander Weide, a hard-hitting American who won Finals MVP honors after a sweep of the Cignal HD Spikers in 2022.