After more than a year since his last real volleyball game, Muenster’s Skyler Varga is excited for the competitive opportunities that lie ahead.
The son of Darren and Jewel Varga has committed to study and play next season for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canada West conference at the U Sports level, the highest in Canada. Varga is also a member of Team Saskatchewan, which is gearing up for the 2022 Canada Summer Games. This summer he will be part of the U19 national team. He last played a competitive game in March of 2020.
Huskies head coach Sean McKay said that Varga will need to earn his playing time but “I think he has a really good chance at shocking some people around the country.” U of S assistant coach, Jordan Nowakowski, also believes in Varga’s potential. As well as his work with the Huskies, Nowakowski is the head coach of the High and Hittable Volleyball Club (who Varga has been practicing with in Saskatoon) and an assistant coach for the Canada Games team.
“I believe playing in the Canada West conference for the next five years will make Skyler one of the best outside hitters the program has seen in the past 10-plus years,” he said. “There is always work to be done with all athletes at any level, but Sky is well on his way to early stardom in Saskatoon. I look forward to coaching Skyler at the 2022 Canada Games in Niagara Falls and this fall with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's volleyball team.”
Before joining the Huskies, Varga hopes to spend some time with the national U19 squad.
“I’m super excited to train and play with the best athletes in Canada at the U19 level,” he said. “Training with these guys is going to help me develop my game significantly so bringing that back to U of S is also going to help. I think every young athlete dreams of one day being able to wear a Team Canada jersey so I’m super proud that I get to rep the Maple Leaf.”
The Huskies
While coaching at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, McKay identified Varga as a prospect at the 16U level. When he joined the Huskies, he continued to watch and then recruit Varga.
“He’s a blue chip guy … Those are the kind of kids we want to keep in Sask,” McKay said.
Varga said that U of S’s Saskatoon campus being close to home and knowing some of the players already factored into his decision. Because of those components, he said
“… I figured the transition from living at home to university life would be pretty seamless. I also knew that the Huskies had a solid team and surrounding myself with a high-performance coach and players would be best for my volleyball career.”
In reference to U Sports, Varga said he is looking forward to playing volleyball at such a high level.
“It’s going to be exciting but also tough playing my first game against guys who are three and even four years older than me,” he said. “Surrounding myself with the best players will only make me better so I’m really looking forward to that.”
While Varga has played various positions growing up, McKay said he projects to be a left side at the next level.
“With his touch on the ball, even his technical ability passing wise, he’s a kid you really need to have on the court on the left side,” McKay said. “He has a good touch, a good jump so he can hit a good backrow ball.”
The coach also praised Varga for what he calls “a really good shoulder, what I refer to kind of as an international shoulder.” Although Varga is slim, McKay said he is “able to hit those serves over 100 kilometres an hour and pop off the ball a little more on the blocks. You need that extra speed at the high levels to terminate a rally.”
As a first-year student-athlete, Varga, who plans to study kinesiology, understands there will be learning to do on and off the court. Nowakowski said, “As a rookie with the Huskies, Skyler will refine some of the technical skills of the game and his understanding of tactics will grow exponentially.”
Family
Varga said his love of volleyball first developed when his parents took him to their co-ed practices and games when he was very little.
“As I grew up, they put me in volleyball camps every summer, let me come along to watch my siblings’ practices and games,” he said. “When I finally got to the age to actually start competing, they coached both my school team and club team. As I got older and started to play at higher levels around the province and country, they have given me all the necessary support to play. I absolutely would not be where I am without them.”
Varga’s older brothers – Devin and Lyndon – and older sister Jenay all have played at the college level. Nowakowski said, “Skyler comes from a volleyball family and has a vast and impressive knowledge of the sport for his age.” The coach also stated that, “Coming from a small town, he is hardworking and humble.”
Varga developed his game at school, helping Muenster win provincial bronze, and with the Muenster Volleyball Club. This year he has been working out with the High and Hittable Volleyball and, more recently, the Huskies.
