Skacel’s Final Performance Ends Best Player Debate

If there were any doubts who was Orange County’s player of the year, Santa Margarita senior Marcus Skacel erased them in the Southern Section Division I final.

Skacel dominated in the biggest match of the season, tallying 37 kills and 25 digs to lead Santa Margarita to a four-game victory over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa and earn a second consecutive title and the school’s first Division I championship.

The title match was a showcase for Skacel’s all-around abilities, which he has honed for years playing beach volleyball with partner and Santa Margarita teammate Adam Breault.

In the Division I final, Skacel, a 6-foot-5 outside hitter who has signed a letter of intent with Stanford, hit from all over the court. On defense, he seemed to be everywhere, whether it was blocking or digging.

Although a rib cage injury sidelined Skacel at the beginning of the season, he finished the season with a flurry.

“He should be the player of the year,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said.

Glenn had his own player of the year candidate, Newport Harbor senior setter Travis Nelson, one of the area’s top collegiate prospects. But Skacel even had Glenn convinced after the title run, coupled with Nelson’s season as starting setter ending early because of an injury.

Nelson helped the Sailors (20-1) defeat Skacel’s team twice this season, but he suffered a broken finger in leading Newport Harbor to a five-game victory over Santa Margarita (18-3) on April 28. It was Santa Margarita’s only loss with Skacel in the lineup.

Skacel was sad to see his friend and club teammate’s season end prematurely.

“At least he got to go out with a win,” Skacel said.

So did Skacel.

The Eagles were seeded second for the Division I playoffs and raced to the final without losing a game in four matches leading to the final.

But fourth-seeded Mira Costa upset top-seeded Newport Harbor in the semifinals, handing the Sailors their only loss of the season. So Santa Margarita didn’t get a rematch, just another championship.

“If [Skacel’s] not in there, we have a chance,” Mira Costa Coach Mike Cook said. “I can see why Stanford recruited him. He dominated the match.”

And he dominated the rest of the season too, when he wasn’t bothered by injury.

“I kept telling everyone,” Glenn said. “When Santa Margarita gets healthy, watch out.”