- September 14, 2024
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FPC outside hitter Marina Carlisi (8) goes up for a hit. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC volleyball players discuss a point during a match at Matanzas on Aug. 28. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC first-year volleyball coach Lindsey Stewart watches her team play against Matanzas. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC volleyball coach Lindsey Stewart talks to her players between sets in a match at Matanzas on Aug. 28. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC players huddle up during a break in play in their match at Matanzas. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler Palm Coast’s volleyball team has a new slogan this season: “All in.”
“We're all in on a new team, all in on a new coach and all in on a new program,” explained junior Faith Dailey.
With Lindsey Stewart taking over as head coach, the Bulldogs have opened the season with a 3-1 record. All of their victories have been three-game sweeps. The only blemish on their record is a 3-0 loss at Matanzas on Aug. 28.
The Pirates are one of the toughest teams on the Bulldogs' schedule this year, and even in the 25-15, 25-11, 25-17 sweep, they can see their progress.
“Matanzas is a great team,” Stewart said. “And you know what? So are we. I’m really proud of the girls. I think we fought as hard as we could.”
The Bulldogs bounced back from the loss to sweep Seabreeze on the road the next night, 25-19. 25-18, 25-17.
This is Stewart's first high school coaching job. She is FPC’s third coach in the past four years. She played volleyball at Lee University and Bryan College, both in Tennessee, and played on the beach volleyball team at Webber International University while working toward her master’s degree.
She coached high-level club volleyball but had not coached since 2019.
“It’s been a while. I had a not-so-great experience with one of the clubs,” she said. “It kind of shot down my view of coaching at the time.”
But her desire to coach again gradually returned. In the summer, Stewart applied for a teaching job and also for an assistant coaching position at FPC. At the time, the school had advertised for a new head coach as well as for an assistant.
She was hired as a social studies teacher, but instead of giving her an assistant coaching job, the hiring committee decided she was the best choice to be the team’s new head coach.
“We met with Lindsey twice and her energy and passion and attention for detail really stood out,” FPC athletic director Scott Drabczyk said. “And she’s jumped in feet first and has been awesome. She focuses on team culture and morale. She’s a future star in the coaching profession. We’re unbelievably excited about her being part of our staff.”
The players say Stewart’s practices are more intense than what they have been used to, and it’s making a difference.
“She really pushes us reach our potential,” senior Dyllis Mballesube said. “She keeps high standards for us. She makes practices harder, so that makes games easier. We're going to be good. I know we're going to be good.”
Stewart said they already are.
“This team has improved tenfold since last year,” Stewart said. “I’m just so proud of everyone. It’s a totally different team, a whole new culture. And they played great (against Matanzas) in my opinion.
Matanzas coach Dawn Moses said the Bulldogs’ improvement under Stewart is obvious.
“She is doing a good job,” Moses said. “We're going to attempt to work together and run some camps and clinics here in Flagler for all our kids. Having good coaches in Flagler is needed. So it'll be good to have her in there.”
The Bulldgos weren’t disappointed in the loss to the Pirates. They can see the big picture.
“I thought we played really well, especially since we were trying new things,” Dailey said. “This wasn't a loss. It was a learn. So I think we're just going to keep expanding throughout the season. We're going to get better and we'll come out and shine.”
