- November 5, 2024
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Flagler Palm Coast volleyball coach Shakirah Cousins called a timeout midway through the first game Thursday night. Her Lady Bulldogs were trailing New Smryna Beach 15-7.
The timeout wasn’t just for water. It was to regroup her team. It was also time for the Lady Bulldogs to drop down and do pushups.
Cousins wasn’t happy with her team’s effort, and although New Smryna Beach went on to win the game, 25-10, and eventually the match in three games, there was a lesson taught.
And that’s what Cousins will keep doing through the team’s final five games.
“I think we still have a lot of room to grow even with as little as five games left,” Cousins said. “Each day, I see tremendous growth in my girls, and I am so proud of how far that we have come in this season.”
The Lady Bulldogs were led Thursday night by Olga Nushtayeva (10 kills and three blocks) and Noelle O’Connor (15 digs and three assists). But FPC was without one of its stars: Khadijah James, who broke her arm Wednesday night in a loss to Seabreeze.
James is out for the season. “She has not only been a breakout player and a standout player, but she has been our most consistent player this season,” Cousins said.
Injuries have been the theme to the season for Cousins in her first season.
“I’m learning a new program, but the injuries certainly haven’t helped it,” she said.
Still, there’s a lot of volleyball left, and Cousins said the remaining schedule will help her team prepare for the district tournament at the end of the month.
"Our schedule will allow us to prepare for the district tournament," she said. "I believe that we are going to be major contenders if we play to the best of our ability."
FPC (6-10) plays its next game 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, at Crescent City. The Lady Bulldogs finish the season Oct. 18 at Matanzas before playing in the district tournament Oct. 23-25 at Mandarin High School.
