- April 25, 2024
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Flagler Palm Coast’s eight seniors went out in style on Thursday night, sweeping Matanzas 3-0 in the regular season finale for both volleyball teams.
But the real winner on Thursday night was Flagler County.
The two teams came together for the annual Dig Pink game, an event FPC coach Shakirah Cousins implemented last year in her first season as the Lady Bulldogs’ coach.
“I wanted us to come together, and I wanted this to be a community fundraiser,” Cousins said after the game.
The teams raised about $500 for breast cancer awareness.
FPC got plenty of support from its student section, which was rowdy and wild throughout the game.
“The crowd was awesome,” Cousins said. “It was the first time I have ever had to pull out both sides of bleachers, and they were both almost packed. I was very happy with the turnout and support for breast cancer awareness and senior night.”
Matanzas coach Julie Menendez said she, too, was excited to see the two schools come together.
“I do actually like it because a lot of times, there’s such controversy between the two schools,” she said.
But the goal, she said, is to beat FPC.
“That was definitely not what we wanted,” Menendez said, referring to the loss. “We want to beat FPC. Even though we’re a smaller school, we want to beat them.”
Matanzas will lose just two seniors at the end of the season: Gabbi Paiz and Morgan Lambert. The team is still young, but Matanzas improved on its win total from last year.
“I know it’s the same thing, but we’re a young team,” Menendez said. “But that’s not going to be an excuse next year.”
Matanzas will be the No. 5 seed when it hosts this week’s District 5-6A tournament. The Lady Pirates play Deltona 7 p.m. Tuesday.
FPC will be the No. 2 seed in this week’s District 1-8A tournament, which will be played at Sandalwood.
FPC will square off against Sandalwood in the semifinals. With a win, FPC would advance to the district championship and secure a state playoff berth for the first time in 13 years, Cousins said.
For updates from Tuesday’s district tournament action, go to PalmCoastObserver.com and follow @aobrien7 on Twitter.
