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Girls Volleyball

Driven to Develop. Empowered to Excel.

Becoming an IMG Academy girls volleyball student-athlete means joining a group of dedicated, strong, and motivated young women striving towards the same goal: reaching their full potential. Explore the only program in the world that combines challenging academics and prestigious college placement with supportive, competitive athletics and holistic personal development.

Where passion meets performance.

Girls volleyball student-athletes have access to an on-campus community inclusive of the support, expertise, and inspiration that’s been proven over more than 40 years. Here’s a look at highlights from IMG Academy’s Class of 2022:

  • 25student commitments to Top 25-ranked academic universities or liberal arts colleges
  • 209student commitments to D-I programs
  • 6student commitments to Ivy League schools
  • 73National Honor Society inductees
  • 71countries represented
  • 49states represented

Program Structure

IMG Academy’s volleyball program provides female student-athletes with a setting that allows them to pursue their dreams on the court, in the classroom, and through extracurricular avenues. From August through June, student-athletes will experience a curriculum and schedule that mirrors a collegiate atmosphere and provides year-round access to the resources and tools needed to conquer their goals.

Regardless of an individual’s age or experience level, IMG’s volleyball program features holistic training that develops every facet of the game, from a strong foundation to elite and technical strategy during competition.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, our program will have options for players in 7th-12th grade:

Pre-season preparation

September

  • Evaluation and testing (physical and volleyball skills)
  • Strength & Conditioning program introduction
  • Individual technical & fundamental training

October-November

  • Intensive Strength & Conditioning training
  • Individual Development Plans (IDP) distributed to parents and players
  • Small group and team technical & tactical training as well as fundamental skill work
  • Local competition

December

  • Team strategy work and continued skill development (position-specific)
  • College planning & NCSA College Recruitment services (applies to U16 and up)
  • Pre-season tournaments as scheduled

Main competition season

January-March

  • Local and national competition and tournaments
  • Continued emphasis on team strategy, position-specific skill work, and fundamental development
  • Focus on mental toughness, leadership, and nutrition training
  • Video analysis sessions
  • In-season off-court preparation and recovery, including yoga following tournaments
  • Open practices for college coaches
  • Continued college planning & NCSA College Recruitment services (applies to U16 and up)

April-June

  • Local and national competition and tournaments
  • Continued emphasis on team strategy, position-specific skill work, and fundamental development
  • Video analysis sessions
  • Increased off-court training as the season winds down
  • Focus on mental toughness, leadership, and nutrition training
  • Open practices for college coaches (post-season)
  • Final player evaluations (post-season)
  • Provided summer training plans

Athletic Development

Girls volleyball student-athletes have access to proven performance training in areas like vision training, strength & conditioning, nutrition, and sports medicine. Athletic Development coaches and trainers integrate into the program's larger support system, ensuring that each student-athlete feels confident and prepared off the court as well.

Strength & Conditioning

IMG’s Strength & Conditioning team designs a specific program that supplements volleyball training to help student-athletes reach their potential.

  • Speed, agility, and movement
  • Endurance & conditioning
  • Strength and power
  • Flexibility, mobility, balance, and core

Sports Medicine

IMG’s Sports Medicine program educates and helps student-athletes keep their bodies healthy during demanding training and competition schedules. Our team promotes athlete availability through preventative and corrective exercises, holistic injury evaluation & treatment and movement quality assessments.

  • Athletic training
  • Physical therapy
  • Injured athlete program
  • Corrective exercise work
  • Recovery
  • Education on injury management
  • Return-to play management

Nutrition

At IMG Academy, we understand how important it is for student-athletes to fuel their bodies to meet their high-level lifestyles and sport demands. Our Nutrition program maximizes student-athlete performance by equipping them with the nutrition knowledge and resources to fuel and hydrate themselves for academic, athletics and long-term health.

  • Optimal everyday nutrition
  • Performance Plate
  • Nutrient intake and timing
  • Hydration strategies
  • Supplement education
  • Pre and post-competition fueling
  • Travel nutrition
  • Energy balance

Vision Training

Vision Training is not just about seeing – it’s about doing. Student-athletes will train their eyes to perform more quickly and efficiently through eye muscle and visual system development.

  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Peripheral vision
  • Reaction time
  • Depth perception
  • Vision strength

Facilities

Girls volleyball student-athletes will train indoors on IMG’s state-of-the-art courts in the East Campus facility, featuring 2 courts and areas for position-specific sessions such as passing, hitting, setting, serving, strategy sessions, and more. In addition to court space, the volleyball program has access to the Performance Center, where strength and conditioning training and other Personal Development sessions take place as well as team meeting areas and locker rooms.

Outside of sport, girls volleyball student-athletes will also take advantage of the following on-campus facilities

  • Dorms and recreational area: Boarding student-athletes experience a setup that mirrors that of a college campus, including suite-style dorm rooms, laundry rooms and services, study rooms, a recreational area for socializing and campus activities, and more.
  • Campus Center: Located in the heart of campus, IMG’s Campus Center features several dining options as well as Health Services provided by Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and the Bookstore.
  • Academic Center: All academic classes take place within this three-story building in addition to college placement and advisement meetings, tutoring and study hall sessions, and other academic-related clubs and opportunities.

Volleyball Director, Donald Suxho

Growing up the son of the men’s volleyball national team coach in war-torn Albania, Donald Suxho emigrated with his family to the U.S. when he was 15. Driven by a passion and fueled by talent, Suxho earned a full scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he became a two-time first-team All-American. After exceling at the collegiate level, he continued to make a name for himself professionally, most notably as Caption of the USA Olympic Volleyball Team for 12 years. In 2015, he transitioned to his first coaching role and continues to provide guidance to the game’s up-and-coming stars.

College

Playing Experience

  • USC (University of Southern California) Bachelor of Communications - 4 years starter & Captain
  • USC All Time Ace Single Season Record
  • 2 Time First Team All American
  • NCAA Player of the Year
  • MPSF Player of the Year
  • 2 Time MPSF All Federation team
  • USC Trojaneer Diamond Award
  • 2 Time Scholar Athlete Award of Honor

Professional

Playing Experience

  • 12 Years USA Olympic Team Captain/Setter
  • Two Time Olympian Setter for USA Team(Greece/London)
  • World Championships/World Cup
  • (2 Turkish League Champs) 14 years Pro Player(Poland, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Russia, Argentina, Dubai) Italian League MVP & Super Cup Champ
  • Pro Beach Player

Coaching Experience

  • USC Men's Assistant Coach
  • SCVC Girls Club Team
  • Head Coach U17/Santa Monica Beach Club Boys & Girls Coach
  • 949 Club Team HC U15,16,17,18
  • Mater Dei High School Assistant Head Coach
  • USA High Performance Coach U19, 18, 16 Girls-Forza 1 Volleyball Consultant U15-U18 Girls

Phone Number:941-749-8784

Testimonials

“Donald is a vital part of the National Team Development Program coaching pool. With extensive international and Olympic experience, he helps our program achieve our mission of accelerating the development of the highest potential youth athletes by sharing his wealth of knowledge from the highest levels of volleyball.”
Kris Berzins Senior Manager USA Women’s Volleyball

“Donald changed our daughter from someone who plays volleyball to a true volleyball player. She learned how to approach the game from true inspiration. Donald assessed her skills and began a program to address her specific needs. Her improvement was evident month after month. Donald possesses so much game knowledge that he imparts through every session. His inspiring stories of grit serve as a source of constant motivation for her. He is simply amazing to work with!"
Mother of a former Balboa Bay Volleyball Club player

Academics

Offering grades 6-12 as well as post-graduate options, IMG provides volleyball student-athletes with a robust academics curriculum, unmatched academic support, and resources that prepares them for the rigors of university life and beyond

Personal Development

IMG girls volleyball student-athletes have sessions focused on the so-called “intangible” skills like leadership, communication, and confidence that truly provide unmatched personal growth and character development. Discover the support that volleyball student-athletes have off the court.

College Placement

It’s critical for volleyball student-athletes to feel confident and equipped to find the best college fit. IMG Academy’s proven, industry-leading college placement services and technology have placed more student-athletes on college rosters than any other program in the world.

Campus Experience

IMG Academy is the ideal setting for volleyball student-athletes to become well-rounded young adults as they explore their passions and interests outside of school and sport.

Tuition

IMG Academy boarding school is built for dedicated and passionate student-athletes. We provide the tools and resources for our student-athletes to achieve their goals in the classroom, in their sport, in college and beyond. IMG Academy tuition rates are based on the comprehensive nature of our programming and resources available to student-athletes.

2023-2024 full year volleyball tuition ranges from $67,400-$89,900 depending on age and program enrollment.

Apply online

IMG Academy Boarding School Application

IMG Academy is the world leader in sports education and the boarding school admits a limited amount of students annually from a large pool of qualified applicants, so we encourage interested student-athletes to submit an application as early as possible. Submit your online application to get started today.

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View Our Stories

Take an inside look at IMG Academy student-athletes and their unique journeys on campus. While each student-athlete has a unique background and story, their shared passions and goals are clear as they strive together to achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.


IMG Volleyball

From the Inside Out | Kennedy Class of 2021

We are a member club of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball. As a player you may stop any unwanted contact from a club representative by simply asking (either verbally or in writing) that all contact cease. Any player believing a club representative of any Florida Region volleyball club has been intimidating, harassing, or acted inappropriately in any manner of contact or recruiting should contact the Florida Region office at (352) 742-0080.