- November 5, 2024
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Shakirah Cousins knew she wanted to return to the Flagler County area. It was just a matter of where she would find a position as both a teacher and volleyball coach.
“I just started applying for jobs,” Cousins said. “(Flagler Palm Coast) had a math position, a coaching position and it all just kind of came together.”
After playing volleyball at Bethune-Cookman, Cousins accepted a position as a coach at Seabreeze High School where she stayed for a few years before returning to California to help some family.
“There was nowhere else we wanted to go,” Cousins said of her recent job search. “I have two young boys, so this was just the area we wanted to be in with our kids.”
Cousins said she took over an experienced FPC team and quickly started implementing her style of play, which emphasizes two specific areas.
“Technique is key with this team,” Cousins said. “And to me, defense is the most important thing. So making sure we’re a great defensive team, we’re passing the ball well and technique (are all important).”
Cousins added that she and assistant coach Sarah Herr were also focused on correcting some of the bad habits the players had developed over the years. And a lot of those corrections come during games, when Cousins is constantly coaching and making adjustments to footwork, positioning and other skills. Her favorite tool to make those adjustments is her whiteboard.
But it’s not only Cousins and Herr that make adjustments and help the Bulldogs prepare for games and be in the best positions on the court. Cousins said she’s been able to rely on senior Kennedy Strickland to step up when she’s not around.
“She can get it done,” Cousins said of the Strickland’s leadership. “She’s the captain this year, and the other girls listen to her. She knows the game. She knows it well. She’s played club (volleyball) with the Power and she just knows what she’s doing on the court. And she’s my voice. If I have to leave the gym, she’s making sure that they’re still doing what they need to do, which is what you want as a coach.”
Cousins said one of her team’s strengths is that they’re older and more seasoned, but at the same time she admits that they still need to work on some basic court awareness. She said the only way to really develop that awareness is to get them on the court and play games.
“They’re a really athletic group,” Cousins said. “If they can keep (playing well), I think we can have some pretty good matches, and I think we might surprise a few teams.”
FPC Roster
4Noelle O’Connor
5Leydiana Martin
11Olga Nushtayeva
16Emily Turner
17Sydney Schake
19Samantha “Kate” Strickland
22Elizabeth Salinsky
24Monica Dorman
25Emily Hartley
26Kennedy Strickland
29Kyla Marks
33Khadijah James
VARSITY SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
Aug. 30Matanzas6:30 p.m.
Sept. 4@ Atlantic6:30 p.m.
Sept. 5Pine Ridge6:30 p.m.
Sept. 6@ Sandalwood*6 p.m.
Sept. 10University5:30 p.m.
Sept. 11@ Spruce Creek6 p.m.
Sept. 13Deltona6 p.m.
Sept. 17Crescent City6 p.m.
Sept. 20Mandarin*6 p.m.
Sept. 22@ Varsity TournamentTBD
Sept. 24@ Seabreeze6 p.m.
Sept. 27@ Sandalwood*6 p.m.
