DME Sports Academy’s newest HYBRID Volleyball Program coach.
DME Sports Academy is one of the top sports training facilities in the world and that means their coaching staff has to be top-notch. Recently, we sat down with Roberto “Rafu” Rodriguez to discuss his love of the sport, his professional volleyball career and new position as a HYBRID Program coach at DME Sports Academy.
Originally from San Juan, PR Rafu comes from a lineage of volleyball players. “I’ve played my entire life, it comes naturally.” Attending the University of Sacred Heart in San Juan Puerto Rico, Rafu developed a love for beach volleyball winning both indoor and outdoor Championships, as well as MVP. He went on to play professionally for the national Puerto Rico team NORCECA for 12 years and podiumed nearly 40 times.
“Find what you love to do and do it with passion.”
In May of 2020, Rafu joined forces with DME in sunny Daytona Beach, Florida as a HYBRID Volleyball Program coach with the goal to have a beach club facility with year-round training, camps, clinics and lessons. As a family man, Rafu has a passion to involve kids in physical activity. DME Sports offers a wide range of training and education options for students and athletes who are looking to develop their mind, body and talents.
At DME you are sure to find the right training to advance your volleyball skills. Training is tailored to the athlete’s skill level that Rafu intends to continue developing and raising the bar.
“The beach program at DME has a brand new four-court facility that is absolutely beautiful!”
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DME VOLLEYBALL TRYOUTS: SPRING CLUB VOLLEYBALL We have Spring Club Volleyball tryouts coming up! Our success as a girls’ volleyball club starts and ends with our experienced, talented and dedicated coaches and training staff. Club Director Dawn Moses says, “I coach because I had great coaches that made a difference in my life. Coaches get the opportunity to help mold young people into adults and I cannot think of a better profession in the world today.” Within our amazing Daytona Field House facility, home to DME Sports, our 6 regulation volleyball courts are made to National Basketball Association hardwood floor quality standards. Our strength and training options are the best around. The Field House makes for an exciting atmosphere for our players to learn, train, and compete . OCTOBER 15TH 5:00 – 6:30pm / 11 year olds 7:00 – 9:00pm / 13 year olds OCTOBER 16TH 5:00 – 7:00 / 12 year olds 7:00 – 9:00pm / 14 year olds 7:00 – 9:00pm 16 year olds OCTOBER 17TH 10 – 11am / 11 & 12 Day 2 11:30 – 1:00pm / 14 year olds Day 2 1 – 2:00pm / 14 year old Day 2 2:00 – 3:00pm 15 & 16 years old Day 2 SIGN UP HERE: DMESPORTSACADEMY.COM/SPRING-TRYOUTS |
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DME ACADEMICS SEEING IS BELIEVING! CLICK HERE TO WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO4xqnDgFOA Xceed Prep at DME is excited to partner with Your College Concierge for our college counseling program. Our college guidance programs go beyond just helping your child get into college.
From day one, your high school student will receive an individualized college plan, one-on-one counseling, and digital tools that will help prepare students for admission to a great college and for a successful and largely debt-free post-collegiate life. With Your College Concierge, your students get immediate help finding, getting into, and paying for college!
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. READY TO MAKE THE SWITCH? | DME SOCCERBe on the lookout for some exciting news we have coming up concerning DME Soccer! |
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LEARN TO SKATE! Want to learn to skate? Or improve your current skills? We have started but you can still sign up here. |
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DME HOCKEY ACADEMY
We have different programs and schedules that you can choose from for our Hockey Academy! Take a look at what skills we work on for a Tier I Plan! Tier I: Full-Time Hockey Academy Students: Hockey Fundamental Skills Development Training.
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FIGURE SKATE WITH US!
We have 1 more Summer Figure Skating clinic on Monday, August 24th at 12:45pm – 2:00pm and 2:00pm – 3:00pm Open Freestyle! Our figure skating teachers and coaches are in compliance with US Figure Skating and PSA rules and regulations. For the safety and ensured protection of our clients, each coach meets the required continuing education requirements (CER’S), proper insurance coverage, and annual background screenings. |
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OLD DOGS, NEW STICKS IS BACK!
Old Dogs New Sticks is for the adult who has never ever played hockey before or is returning from an extended absence. The program is co-ed, non-checking, for people over 18 years of age and is set in an insanely positive, judgment-free atmosphere. No ice skating or hockey experience is required in order to participate. We will have a “free day” to try the Old Dogs New Sticks on September 13th from 4:15- 5:15 pm. If the participants would like to borrow equipment from the arena (that is part of the program), they will need to arrive an hour prior to the session (at 3:15). REGISTER FOR FREE SESSION: CLICK HERE |
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DIA FALL HOUSE LEAGUE
Our next (Fall) House League session will start on Tuesday, September 1st. There will be a total of 8 practice/development sessions and 8 games included. The cost of the session is $225. The dates are:Tuesdays 7:15-8:15pm: 9/1, 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20 and 11/3Sundays 8:15-9:15am: 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 11/8 |
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DME BASKETBALL POST GRAD UPDATE
The DME Sports Academy team is very excited about our upcoming 2020/21 postgrad basketball season. In order to properly prepare for and adjust to the US and International related health initiatives, we have decided to modify our post-grad program timeline. We want to assure all that our program dates and game schedules are all set for the upcoming season and we look forward to welcoming all our players on campus and into our new dorms! START DATE: October 1 – 4, 2020 (Thursday – Sunday) Athlete Flight Arrival (Check-In Days)October 4 (Sunday) Post Grad Program OrientationOctober 5 (Monday) Pre-Season Combine Starts ENDING DATE: April 1 – 4, 2021 (Thursday – Sunday) Athlete Flight Departure (Check-Out Days) Please note that the game and tournaments schedule has not been changed! Do not hesitate to contact our coach Will Carpenter at will.carpenter@dmesports.com for any additional questions or concerns. Looking forward to seeing you here at DME soon. |
COME TRAIN WITH US!
DME SUMMER EVENTS
We are so sad to say goodbye to our Summer Superstars Campers but we want to thank all of our campers, staff, and parents for their efforts and contributions that made this experience one of the best yet! We hope to see you again next Summer! You can check out some of our favorite memories on our DME Superstars Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dmesuperstars
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LET’S STAY SOCIALDon’t forget, our inbox is always open! Ask us any questions through any of our social media platforms! Have a certain question for a specific coach? Just let us know when you message us! Twitter: @DMESportsAcadInstagram: @dmesportsacademy YouTube: @DMESportsAcademy Facebook: @DMESports Check out our videos here:https://youtu.be/GVUhz8r-X3ghttps://www.instagram.com/p/B-dBII-BKVy |
DME American volleyball teams played in the United League Tournament on January 11th at DME Field House. Seven of our American Teams participated and competed very well. Our Elite teams also played in the two-day Florida Winter Festival tournament. Eight of our Elite teams competed.
Some highlight teams of this weekend were DME 15 Hybrid, 15 Elite, 12 and 14 Elite. DME 12 finished 3/2 overall.
DME 15 Hybrid finished first place in Silver B at Florida Winter Festival. DME 15 Adidas Elite Team took home 1st place in Gold! Coming right behind 15 Elite in Gold was DME 14 Adidas Elite. They took 2nd place in the Gold this weekend.
All teams overall played with great energy. All of our 8 Elite teams will take be gearing up for the Tropical Ice Open Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida this next weekend, January 18th – 19th.
You can check out the all the photos here on Facebook.
DME Volleyball took on a one day tourney in Tavares, FL on Sunday, with Adidas Elite 10, Local 15 and 16, and Adidas American 10, 12, 13O, 14S, and 14J. All teams played well, with great finishing from DME Adidas American 13U, that finished 4-1.
DME 13U played with an undefeated record before the championship game against Momentum Club 13.
DME 13U took on Momentum 13 at the Big House on Court 4 at 4:00 pm and finished with a 0-2 loss.
Despite the defeat, 13U took second place in the tournament, bringing home a trophy back to Daytona.
DME Adidas 10 Elite also had a great tournament finishing with a 3-1 record. DME 10 Elite faced the same fate with playing with an undefeated record until playing Momentum 11 in the championship game.
DME 10E suited up at the Big House one Court 1 at 4:00 pm and came close but finished with a 0-2 defeat 18-25,15-25. DME 10’s played hard and put up a fight, despite the fact that Momentum 11 was an older age group.
DME 10E took home second place in their bracket and parents and fans were very proud of how they performed and fought! DME 10E also brought back a trophy to DME Sports Academy.
Ten of DME Volleyball teams, including Adidas Elite 12,13,14,15E,15J, 16, 17 and Adidas American 13R, 15, and 16 attended the Daytona 100 Tournament at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach this weekend.
All of the DME teams played very well, finishing with a 31-20 record as a whole. Three teams finished 1st – 3rd in their bracket, which two of the three finishing with a 4-1 record.
One of the outstanding teams this weekend was DME Adidas Elite 15U-Joe, who placed 1st in the Gold Bracket in USA Division. Elite 15U-J closed out two games in the championship against Nona Sports 15N finishing 2-0 (25-18,25-13).
DME Adidas Elite 15U-E also did well in the tourney with an undefeated record until the championship game. DME 15U suited up against UPONTOP 15’S Elite, finishing 1-2 (25-20,22-25,13-15).
Another team that did well was 12 Elite, who finished 3rd in the Gold bracket in 12 Club.
They started the first-day of the tournament to a great start, finishing 3-0.
Sunday at 10:00 AM, championship game, against Gainesville Jrs 12 Black Elite, was a tough great match for the 12 Elite. DME won the first game, 25-21, lost the second one, 27-29, and lost by two points in the third match 16-18.
DME Volleyball is back in the gym today, preparing for their next tournament. DME Adidas American teams take on the Gatorade VB Challenge Tournament, in Tavares, FL on February 4.
DME Sports Academy Volleyball, ages 12-18 Elite and American, played in Daytona Beach’s Florida Cup Tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Two teams, DME 15 and 13 Elite, went undefeated in the whole tournament bringing DME the championship trophies.
DME had eleven teams in the Winter Festival, with six teams finishing 1st or 3rd in their final division.
DME’s youngest team, Elite 12U finished 4-2 marking 3rd place in their age group.
DME American 12-Roa finished 3rd place as well with a 3-2 record, losing in the championship Gold Pool.
DME Elite 14U almost took home an undefeated record but lost to the DME Elite 13U with the score of 25-12 and 25-16! Elite 14U finished out 3rd place in their division.
DME Elite 17U came 3rd in the Gold Pool losing to OPU 18 Rox Black.
As for DME 15 AND 13 Elite, both took home gold medals finishing with undefeated records. 15 Elite dominated the championship game against Five Stars15’s with the score of 25-7 and 25-13.
13 Elite dominated but fought longer against Vipers 14’s Elite in a third game tiebreaker, 25-17,12-25, 15-9.
All DME teams showed great energy and spirit representing their home city in this tournament. They now prepare for their tournament this weekend in Apopka, FL.
DAYTONA BEACH — DME Sports Academy is proud to announce that Junior’s Sarah Luoma and Kamari Potter of our 17 Black team, have both verbally committed to the University of Tampa.
If you know these young women, you’d understand that this was no coincidence. Both athletes have demonstrated a high level of maturity, true leadership, and a consistent display of hard work to reach their fullest potential. Earlier this year, Sarah made the AVCA Phenom List, the JVA watch list, and was placed on the all area first team. Sarah was also the most outstanding player for the New Smyrna Beach High School team, which finished in the Regional Championship.
At Mainland High School, Kamari was named offensive player of the year, and lead her team in the most kills and blocks. This year, Kamari was also placed on the JVA watch list. Academically, Kamari has made honor role this year.
These two best friends will not only have each other as they embark on a new journey, but they will have the support of a tightly knit community – their family, friends, teammates, and coaches. Here’s what they all had to say:
“We are super excited as parents, about Kamari’s commitment to the University of Tampa. We are also excited about her Improvement not only as a player but as a person! We would like to thank DME Sports Academy for providing her with a platform to improve and display her skills. As well as the great coaching staff that is helping to mold her into a great young lady! Great job DME we really appreciate all of your work and effort on our child’s behalf – thank you!”
– Mr. And Mrs. Potter
“We have always been proud of Sarah’s volleyball accomplishments throughout the years and knew she would progress to the next level. We are most proud of how grounded she was, how she handled the stress, and how mature she was throughout this process. We are excited beyond words and over joyed at the opportunity to support and continue watching her grow as a Spartan at Tampa!”
– Mr. and Mrs. Luoma
“On behalf of DME Sports Academy Volleyball staff we are super proud of Sarah Luoma and Kamari Potter and their decision to join the University of Tampa Spartans. One of the lessons we really try to teach is that hard work pays off and this is the case with these two truly talented individuals.”
– Dawn Moses, Director of Volleyball