BOB ETTINGER
In order to survive as a volleyball player at Lake Erie College, Erica Muniak had to be a fighter both as part of a team and as an individual.
“That’s the only way to get through Lake Erie volleyball,” Muniak, a 2006 Geneva graduate said. “We had to fight. We’re taking baby steps. Sometimes, they’re larger steps. We’re moving closer to our goal. We have the talent, we’re but we’re still so far away. I think we’ve shown we have the talent.”
The Storm honored Muniak prior to closing out its season with a 25-19, 25-20, 24-26, 25-23 loss to West Liberty on Nov. 7. She was the only Lake Erie senior this season.
“At times, I did wish there were other seniors,” Muniak said. “I wish I would have had someone to bounce things off or someone to back me up. But Senior Night was awesome. I felt like it was Erica Day.
“It was very difficult (being the only senior), especially since the majority of the team is underclassmen. We had 14 combined freshmen and sophomores. That left us with four upperclassmen trying to control attitudes. (The younger players) are still learning, so I had to deal with how to turn their attitudes to the positive.
“It was difficult at times. It was just very difficult.”
Muniak, the daughter of Thomas and Milagro Muniak, had to be smart as well as a fighter. After all, she’s an outside hitter and only stands at 5-foot-7.
“When I came in, they were Division III,” Muniak said. “I went to see some other schools in that division and I saw that the girls were 5-7, 5-8, 5-9. I wasn’t intimidated. In Division II, the girls are huge.
“It was a huge intimidation factor. I’d be walking around and see the girls were huge. All I can think is I can jump. Some days, the jump is there and some days, it isn’t. Luckily, I do have a good vertical. All I could hope for is that my jump is good that day.
“I definitely had to learn to switch up my hits. I’m not tall and there are girls that are 6-3 blocking against me. My favorite hit is over the middle and it’s not over a blocker because there’s a huge hole. Being a shorter player definitely made me a smarter player.”
It also made her a player that had to change her uniform number.
“When I started at Lake Erie, I was the shortest person on the team,” Muniak said. “That’s how I got stuck with No. 1 — it was the smallest uniform. I was No. 16 in high school and wanted No. 16. But it was a double XL. I had no idea they were turning into a Division II school when I came to play here. I had no idea I’d be one of the shortest players on the team.”
Despite being vertically challenged, at least as far as her sport is concerned, Muniak was third on the Storm in kills with 173 and second on the team in kills per set with a 1.48 average.
“I never thought of myself as being the strongest player,” Muniak said. “I like to think of myself as having the most positive attitude on the team. Being third on the team, I never expected that. I do not have a strong hit.
“It even shocked me I was third on the team. I look at myself as someone the girls can look up to. When their heads go down, I hope I’m the one to bring them back up and finish the game.”
Muniak also found that her stature was a blessing in some ways.
“Along with playing smart, I put myself on the floor as much as I could,” she said. “It’s the only way to reach the balls that are hit hard. I’m quick and I was able to get to those balls. It helps to be smaller. The bigger girls are sometimes slower.
“I was jealous of the other girls. I had to find ways to work with what I have. I wish I was two or three inches taller with (the vertical) I have. But I’ve got to work with what I’ve got.”
Muniak and the Storm faced some rough times during her career.
“My junior year, we didn’t have a very good record,” Muniak said. “It was difficult to keep the spirits up. We’d be walking out of the gym and asking when this was ever going to change. It almost took away my love for the game at times. That’s a scary feeling. I’d been in the sport nine years up to that point and was wondering why I wasn’t having fun.
“We definitely made up for it this year. At times, you take a deep breath and all you can do is keep fighting.”
They were bright spots for Muniak and the Storm, too.
“When we were Division III, we beat the No. 1 seed in our conference, Frostburg State at home,” Muniak said. “Unfortunately, our jerseys weren’t clean for some reason. I remember the team was very upset and we took it out on Frostburg. We ended up playing an amazing game altogether.
“I made the last play of the game and that’s what won it for us. It was an amazing feeling. It was one of the best moments for Lake Erie volleyball, I think.”
Muniak will graduate in the fall with a bachelor’s degree in math and a bachelor’s degree in education. From there, she will embark on a career as a teacher and, if all goes well, as a volleyball coach.
“I’m not completely sure yet (where I want to teach),” Muniak said. “My heart is set on moving south, Charlotte, N.C., would be perfect. I might possibly get a graduate assistant position with a volleyball program.
“I don’t think I’m ready to leave the sport yet. If those things fall through, I’ll get a job here in Ohio teaching.
“I definitely want to coach in the future. That’s one of the reasons I went into education.”
