MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – From a late introduction to the sport of volleyball to earning West Virginia Player of the Year and leading Musselman to its first state title, to playing Division I ball, becoming a head coach and going back to the state tournament, Erica Manor has done it all.
Well almost – she still has her sights set on winning another state title.
“It is wonderful getting to sit here as a first-time coach knowing we’re going to states, especially with my girls working (as hard as they did),” Manor said. “So getting to say I can stamp my ticket to states in my first year is an unbelievable experience. I’m so excited for the opportunity to experience it with this awesome group of girls.”
The Mohigans (17-18-2) have made quite the splash in Manor’s first year at the helm, and it all came to an explosive point in the Region I tournament when they defeated the No. 1 seed Wheeling Park in five sets. Morgantown fell in the first and third sets but rallied from the 2-1 deficit to take the Patriots to the tie-breaker and win 15-11. Additionally, Morgantown’s lead attacker Alayna Corwin has 232 kills and a .130 hitting percentage on the season. Her 186 digs are good for a second-best team mark.
“We were ecstatic to be in that moment against a really good Wheeling Park team,” Manor said. “Every point in that match we kept saying, ‘Flip the page, believe in the moment and believe in yourself and that we can be victorious,’ and I think that believing in ourselves despite losing to them twice in the regular season (is how) we came out with the big upset win.”
Now Manor is onto her next task: Taking on top-seed Musselman and her former head coach Shawn Martz in the first round the state tournament.
Martz is a well-known coach around the state, as he was the first coach to win a state tournament with the Lady Applemen. Manor was a senior that year, and she finished the season with an exclamation point in the title game with 38 kills and 20 digs. That wasn’t all – Manor tallied 747 kills and a .391 attack percentage in her senior year to claim first-team Class AAA all-state honors.
“Starting as a player he taught me the game of volleyball – I was very late in learning the sport,” Manor said. “I have to build him up in my success, and he and that program paved my path to be successful and play Division I ball (at Liberty University). Then transitioning to work under him as an assistant in how the game works as a non-player, he’s been the best mentor to me. Ultimately, it’s because of him that I have the confidence and knowledge that I can go create and be successful with my own team.”
“Obviously she was a great player for us and went on to have a great college career,” Martz said. “I knew right away when she was our assistant that she was going to make a great head coach one da. she had a way with the kids where they gravitated toward her – and she’s knowledgable about the game, doesn’t get a big head about her and always wants to learn.”
With an extensive history, both Manor and Martz describe their relationship as a big brother/little sister bond. After finishing out her career with the Flames, Manor returned to her alma mater to assist Martz. In that role, she helped lead the Lady Applemen to more state tournaments.
“We’re really close – we talk on the phone a couple times a week,” Martz said. “I don’t think either one of us is crazy about the matchup, we’d rather be playing someone else in the first round. It’ll be bittersweet (no matter who wins).”
That bittersweet feeling is echoed by Manor, who said should Musselman win over her Mohigans she’ll be in stands cheering on the Applemen.
Musselman (32-10-4) enter the state tournament with a young team after losing a deep-rooted senior group that won two state titles in 2016 and 2017. What seemed like a rebuilding year, Martz is surprised – but not upset – how his team has performed this season. Led by freshman Hannah Howard (346 kills, .246 hitting percentage, 51 aces, 374 digs) and sophomore Sadie Wright (207 kills, .302 hitting percentage, 50 aces, 68 blocks), Musselman swept through the season with ease. In keeping the long line of state appearances alive, Martz wants his team to remain calm and not feel pressured.
“I think this year we can go in a little more loose (even though) we have that pressure as the No. 1-seed. You can throw those seeds out the window once you get down there, so we’re not going to put that pressure on (our) kids.,” Martz said.
In what will make an interesting show, both head coaches know the strengths and weaknesses of both teams to a “T” – they run the same systems. But what both coaches know best is what may put their respective team down. Martz wants his team to keep away from getting ahead and making serve and passing mistakes, while Manor wants her group to maintain a cool head in tournament play.
“At the beginning of the year we were young and making silly mistakes, and it hasn’t been until the final stretch of the season that I’ve seen their mindset and decision-making change,” Manor said. “They’re seeing the court in a different light and are playing like upperclassmen. I think they flip on a switch when it’s a tournament atmosphere, (and) I hope they’ll flip that switch and show the same consistency we saw against Wheeling Park. There’s no pressure at all (even as) the underdog. We’re going to go out there and play with poise.”
Remember that brother/sister relationship?
All big brothers pick on their little sisters, even if they don’t admit to it. It always comes from a good place, though.
In Manor and Martz’ case, before Manor took over the Mohigans she was on the receiving end of some playful smack talk. Unbeknownst to Martz, however, it could be his downfall.
“It made me thrive – I thrive under pressure,” Manor said. “That smack talk gave me the motivation to grind and teach my kids how to get on that next level of play. Getting the opportunity to play my alma mater is a bittersweet feeling, (but) I believe every one of our girls can play to their potential and anything is possible.”
TWEET @andrewspellman_
