Rise to Greatness!
We specialize in growing elite volleyball players and Leaders on and off the court.
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Our Program – Rise to Greatness! with Driven Dragons Volleyball Academy
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At Driven Dragons Volleyball Academy, we build champions and leaders through a clear, consistent philosophy rooted in growth, accountability, and excellence.
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Why Choose Driven Dragons?
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Rise to Greatness! by living our four core Leadership Values every day:
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Enthusiasm — Bring energy and positivity to everything we do.
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Sportsmanship — Respect teammates, opponents, and the game.
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Drive — Work relentlessly and never settle.
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Camaraderie — Lift each other up and build real bonds.
These values are non-negotiable and shape our culture on and off the court.
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Program Philosophy
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For Athletes Ages 15 and Over:
This is a highly competitive program. To wear the Dragon jersey, you must prove you have what it takes — every practice, every rep, every match. We are looking for athletes who are ready to embrace a serious, elite-level environment with high expectations, tough competition, and a commitment to constant improvement. Only those who demonstrate the drive, coachability, and competitive fire will earn and keep their spot.
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For Athletes Ages 14 and Under:
We focus on building confidence, strong fundamentals, and a lifelong love for the game. Our younger programs offer a supportive, progressive pathway with clear levels from beginner to advanced. Every athlete is developed at their own pace in a positive environment that prioritizes fun, skill mastery, and personal growth.
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True Victory Lies in Growth
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We intentionally seek challenging competition because that’s where real development happens. While we celebrate wins as a team, our ultimate measure of success is individual improvement, mental toughness, skill development, and character.
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We follow Positive Coaching Alliance principles and our ELM Tree mindset:
Effort • Learning • Mistakes are OK
Our Whole Player Development approach includes technical training, strength & conditioning, optional mental resilience work, and video analysis for our competitive teams.
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Development Across Levels
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Ages 14 & Under (Middle School Level): Foundational skill building, confidence, and joy in a nurturing environment with multiple skill-based levels.
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Ages 15–18 (High School Level): Competitive, selective teams focused on high-level play, college exposure, and proving yourself as a Dragon.
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Guided by our Leadership Values, we create a culture where hard work and coachability are rewarded, teammates push each other to be better, and every athlete is challenged to rise.
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Why Driven Dragons Is Different: Tournament Level Confusion
What does P90x have to do with Volleyball?
Have you ever played club volleyball where your team wins medal after medal… but always stays at the same level?
At Driven Dragons, we do things differently. We call it Tournament Level Confusion (think P90X (muscle confusion) for volleyball).
We intentionally move our athletes between different levels and brackets — sometimes throwing them into the deep end against stronger, faster teams, and sometimes placing them in local events where they may medal more easily and rebuild confidence. This deliberate variety builds true adaptability, mental toughness, and long-term growth.
It’s all part of our proprietary system — and while we’re happy to share most of it, there is one pillar that can never be replicated:
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The undeniable energy that comes from our leadership, culture, and values.
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This lives in our DNA. It’s authentic. It’s electric. And it fuels everything we do.
Leadership Team
Coach Jaime Bio Coach Jaime Lizarazu, the driving force behind Driven Dragons Volleyball Academy, is a visionary leader with an unmatched passion for volleyball and an unrelenting commitment to excellence. With over 20 years of experience in quality and continuous improvement, Jaime has transitioned her career from refining the highest quality IT systems to manufacture life-saving drugs to applying those same skills to build the most sought-after, high-quality volleyball training academy. Her mission is clear: to deliver the world’s premier volleyball training experience by refining the academy’s program year after year, implementing the latest cutting-edge training techniques, and hand-selecting and retaining the best coaches—each with competitive playing and or coaching experience through clubs and/or college at Division I, II, or III universities and coaching expertise honed in university, club, or school settings, continually refining their skills. Jaime’s volleyball journey began as a high school freshman when she was recruited for Club Volleyball, training for four years under Villanova’s esteemed coaching staff. Her talent and tenacity earned her walk-on spots at Drexel and Temple Universities, both Division I programs, where she honed her skills and deepened her love for the game. A dynamic beach volleyball player, Jaime shares her passion with her husband and children, creating lasting family memories on the sand. A Drexel University graduate, Jaime’s pursuit of quality extended beyond the court into her professional career as an IT Quality Engineer. She spent two impactful years in Switzerland validating pharmaceutical systems that produce life-saving medicines, sharpening her expertise in precision and continuous improvement. This same drive fuels her work at Driven Dragons, where she has built a legacy of excellence. Starting her coaching career at St. Basil's Academy High School in Cheltenham PA, Jaime now leads the academy’s staff with a focus on training coaches to inspire and elevate their athletes. Her hands-on approach ensures every coach embodies her commitment to quality, fostering a culture of passion, respect, and empowerment. Jaime’s specialty lies in her ability to create a program that evolves annually, incorporating the latest volleyball methodologies and cultivating a coaching staff that is second to none. Parents and athletes can trust that under Jaime’s leadership, Driven Dragons Volleyball Academy delivers an unparalleled experience, designed to unlock every player’s potential and ignite a lifelong spark for the sport. Join Jaime and her team to experience volleyball training at its finest, led by a coach who lives and breathes excellence. Key Accomplishments Over 20 years of experience in quality and continuous improvement, transitioned from IT systems for life-saving pharmaceuticals to building the most sought-after volleyball training academy. Selected as a walk-on volleyball player at Drexel and Temple Universities, Division I schools, after excelling in Club Volleyball under Villanova’s coaching staff. Played doubles beach volleyball with family, passing her passion for the sport to the next generation. Contributed to global healthcare by validating pharmaceutical systems in Switzerland for two years, honing expertise in precision and quality. Leads Driven Dragons Volleyball Academy, continuously refining the program, training top-tier coaches, and implementing cutting-edge techniques to deliver the world’s best volleyball training experience.
Coach Smith Bio: Smith served as head coach for the women's volleyball program at Immaculata University, completing his first season in the fall of 2018 with a 5-17 record and qualifying for the inaugural Atlantic East Conference tournament. He secured his first career win as a head coach in the season-opener at Cairn (8/31) and led the Mighty Macs to the program's first-ever Atlantic East victory over Gwynedd Mercy (10/24), clinching a spot in the conference tournament. In his second season at Immaculata in 2019, Smith guided the Macs to another 5-17 record while achieving improvements in several statistical categories. The team finished second in the Atlantic East in opponents' hitting percentage (.160) and led the league in opponents' assists per game (8.42). Under Smith's mentorship, Natalie Dependahl ranked eighth in the Atlantic East with 2.39 kills per set, and McKenna Ryan ranked sixth in the conference with 4.07 digs per set. Prior to Immaculata, Smith brought extensive coaching experience from his six-year tenure as the head girls' volleyball coach at Sparks Volleyball Club in West Chester, Pa. He also served as co-director and head coach of the Sparks Volleyball Beach Volleyball Club, coaching girls aged 13 through 18. During his time with Sparks, Smith coached for four seasons as the head girls' volleyball coach at Kennett High School (2013-16) and worked as a court coach and player evaluator with USAV High Performance in 2015. Smith earned his Level III AAU Positive Coaching Alliance and Coaching Accreditation Program (CAP) II certifications in 2017 and held USAV Indoor and Beach IMPACT certifications. As an official, he was a Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) and PIAA certified official, having officiated NCAA men's and women's matches for two years. A member of USA Volleyball since 1995, Smith played for the men's club team at West Chester University for three seasons. Smith now brings his wealth of experience to Driven Dragons Volleyball Academy, where he currently serves as the Director of Recruiting, Head Coach, and Mentor continuing to inspire and develop young athletes.
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