There was a point in Erica Brouse’s volleyball journey when the game stopped feeling comfortable and started feeling demanding. The drives were longer. The expectations were higher. The pressure became constant. But somewhere between leaving school early for practice, finishing homework late at night, and learning how to navigate Pittsburgh traffic on her own as a teenager, she discovered something bigger than volleyball itself.
She discovered the kind of person and teammate she wanted to become.
Erica, a senior at Central Cambria High School and a 2026 KRVA Scholarship recipient, grew up in a family that encouraged her to try everything. She played multiple sports before volleyball finally clicked in sixth grade. “After I played in my first volleyball game, I fell in love with the sport,” she said. That passion eventually led her to commit to play Division II volleyball at Slippery Rock University while pursuing a degree in Exercise Science with plans to become a Physician’s Assistant.
The turning point in her athletic career came during the summer before her junior year, when she decided to try out for Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association. The opportunity represented everything she wanted, but it also came with sacrifices her family openly discussed before accepting the offer. The cost would come out of her college fund. Practices were nearly two hours away. Thursdays meant leaving school early and driving through downtown Pittsburgh alone just to arrive on time. In between school and volleyball, she worked shifts at Off the Rak while carrying a demanding academic schedule that helped her maintain a 4.28 GPA.
“People don’t see the hours of training and recovery that happen outside of matches,” Erica said. “They don’t see the sleep you lose traveling, the gym sessions, the meal prep, or the recovery work. There’s a lot that goes into it.”
What kept her moving forward was the realization that every sacrifice was connected to a bigger goal. “It was always my dream to play volleyball in college,” she said. “Once I started hearing from college coaches, everything started feeling worth it.” Erica also developed a mindset that separated her from many athletes around her. “There are thousands of volleyball players out there, so I always asked myself how I was going to set myself apart and put myself in a position to succeed,” she said. “It’s easy to skip the gym because you’re tired or miss practice because you have to study for a test, but pushing past those moments is exactly what separates you from others.”
Still, the adjustment to national-level volleyball was not easy.
When Erica arrived at Pittsburgh Elite, she was introduced to a level of intensity she had never experienced before. Competition existed everywhere, including within her own team. Players challenged each other constantly, and Erica found herself questioning whether harsh criticism was simply part of elite athletics. Over time, she realized something important: that style of leadership was never going to bring out the best in her.
“I decided I never wanted to be the teammate who made someone feel worthless,” she said. “I wanted to be the teammate who made the game worth playing.”
That perspective changed the way she approached leadership. Instead of trying to become the loudest voice in the gym, Erica focused on becoming a steady and positive one. She learned that leadership is not always about intensity. Sometimes it is about consistency, encouragement, and creating confidence in the people around you.
“The challenges I went through helped me become a positive influence both on and off the court,” she said. “Once I found my voice, I realized my teammates actually wanted me to lead.”
Her recruiting process reinforced those same values. Erica spent time watching college programs closely, paying attention not only to coaching styles, but also to how teammates treated each other. That is what ultimately led her to Slippery Rock University and Coach Dylan Lasher. “I spent a lot of time traveling to watch games to see how coaches interacted with their players and how those players treated each other,” she said. “The minute I started the process with Coach Lasher it just felt like the right fit. The teammates were so respective to one another and the energy at Slippery Rock is something I wanted to be a part of. “
Looking back, Erica says volleyball taught her far more than how to compete. It taught her how to manage time, push through setbacks, and stay focused when things did not go according to plan. Most importantly, it taught her the value of perspective. “My definition of success hasn’t changed. I still feel fulfilled when I’m achieving my goals, and happy when we win. However the biggest lesson I learned was how to keep a positive attitude whether I’m winning or losing or things are not going my way,” says Erica.
As for advice to younger athletes who may be going through a tough moment in their own journey, Erica offered the following: “Remember why you play the game. It’s that simple.”
For Erica Brouse, that reminder became the foundation for everything else.
