Erica is joining the Game On! team with a lifetime full of passion for spreading the joy and impact of sports thanks to the amazing coaches she has learned from throughout her career.

Erica grew up a multi-sport athlete, participating in volleyball, softball, basketball, gymnastics and golf.  As a coach’s kid and an avid camper, she was exposed to many different coaches, coaching techniques and styles. Interestingly, Erica knew at a very early age that volleyball coaching was her calling, understanding that a coach’s impact on kids could make all the difference. Determined to make coaching a lifelong career, she paid keen attention all the way through her developmental and competitive years, with the goal of developing an authentic style and philosophy bound to empower, excite and instill pure joy. 

“Breaking down fundamental skills in an environment full of fun and energy is my passion mission,” said Erica. “There is nothing quite like watching kids master a skill for the first time or helping a more experienced athlete gain momentum. I can’t wait to bring my passion and impact to Game On!”

Erica is coming to Game On! directly from the volleyball coaching staff at Northwestern University where she has been for the past two seasons. Prior to Northwestern, Erica coached at California Baptist University in southern California where she helped guide the Lancers to a berth in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament in the program’s very first year of eligibility for postseason play. She also aided in the development of a First Team All-WAC Conference honoree. 

Prior to her college coaching career, Erica played professional volleyball for 6 years both internationally and domestically. She played in Poland, France, Finland, Czechia, and Germany and also competed in the inaugural season of the Athletes Unlimited Volleyball league here in the U.S. 

Before her professional career, Erica played collegiately at the University of Minnesota and Syracuse University. During her 3 years at Minnesota, she not only contributed to her team being crowned Big Ten Conference Champion and two-time NCAA Final Four participant, but she also had the privilege of being coached by the AVCA Hall of Fame coach Hugh McCutcheon. Hugh joined the Minnesota volleyball team in 2012 after coaching for the USA National team on both the men’s and women’s side. In the 2008 Olympics, he led the men’s national team to a Gold medal, and in 2012 Olympics led the women’s national team to a Silver medal.  Having played for Hugh for 3 seasons, Erica comes to the Game On! coaching team having learned from the very best in the business.

During her off seasons as an athlete starting in 2014, Erica coached and directed multiple camps. Before starting her own camp company, Ampersand Volleyball, in 2021, she coached for camp companies such as Midwest Volleyball Instructors, Hugh McCutcheon Volleyball Camps, Gold Medal Squared, and All-American Volleyball camps. Once she retired from her playing career and entered the world of college coaching in 2022, Erica then became the Camp Director for both Northwestern and CBU. In the fall of 2024 she also coached an accelerator camp with the USA National Team Development Program. 

In her downtime Erica enjoys all things musical theatre, camping, exploring Chicago and hanging with family and cat, Rupert. She also continues to play women’s semi-pro volleyball as part of the VLA league for team Chicago Frost.

Erica is married to her husband and fellow volleyball lover, Tim Lourich. Tim played volleyball at Minnesota as well, and throughout the years they have coached multiple camps together. They also helped start a boys high school program at Rosemount High School in Minnesota.