- November 5, 2024
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It’s pretty simple: If there’s a ball, there’s a body. And if there’s no body, then the Flagler Palm Coast volleyball players are doing pushups.
The Lady Bulldogs volleyball players are no strangers to pushups under second-year coach Shakirah Cousins, though. Last season, during a match against New Smyrna Beach, Cousins called a timeout during the first game. Unhappy with her team’s effort, Cousins had her players drop down and give her pushups. Right there, on the hardwood, in the middle of a game.
And that was the scene Wednesday during practice: players let the ball land, and so they did some pushups.
Cousins took over a Lady Bulldogs volleyball program that went 1-23 in the year before her arrival. Last year, FPC finished 9-13, and Cousins began to see signs of improvement.
“I think that was an excellent move in the right direction,” Cousins said Wednesday, as the team did sprints midway through practice.
Cousins said she has focused on the basics in the time she’s been the coach: footwork, technique, serving, hitting.
And, like other sports, defense wins championships, Cousins said.
“The little things you do before the fun stuff,” she said. “I plan on being one of the top defensive teams. The offense will come.”
FPC lost five seniors from last year’s team, but another six seniors will lead the way this year, including several players who could sign this fall to play collegiate volleyball.
FPC is now in District 1-8A with Mandarin, Sandalwood, First Coast and West Port (Ocala).
Cousins hopes to contend for at least the third spot heading into the district tournament. That would mean the Lady Bulldogs avoid the play-in game and just need to win one game to secure a spot in the district championship and a state playoff berth.
“The outlook for this year is good,” Cousins said. “We’re going to get stronger each year, so I’m excited.”
POCKET SCHEDULE
6 p.m. Aug. 27 vs. Mainland
6 p.m. Aug. 28 @ Seabreeze
6 p.m. Aug. 29 vs. New Smyrna Beach
6:30 p.m. Sept. 4 @ Sandalwood
6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 @ University
6 p.m. Sept. 10 vs. Spruce Creek
6 p.m. Sept. 11 @ New Smyrna Beach
6 p.m. Sept. 12 vs. Mandarin
6:30 p.m. Sept. 17 @ First Coast
6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 @ Matanzas
6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 vs. DeLand
6 p.m. Sept. 23 @ Deltona
6 p.m. Sept. 25 vs. Seabreeze
6 p.m. Sept. 26 @ West Port (Ocala)
6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 vs. Sandalwood
6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 @ Mandarin
6 p.m. Oct. 9 vs. West Port (Ocala)
6:30 p.m. Oct. 10 vs. First Coast
6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 @ Pedro Menendez
6 p.m. Oct. 15 @ Atlantic
6 p.m. Oct. 17 vs. Mantazas (Senior Night)
Oct. 21-24 District 1-8A tournament (at Sandalwood)
