Care-Free Philosophy

Marcus Skacel can dominate high school volleyball matches. And he does it with a smile.

Everyone knows the 6-foot-5 senior from Santa Margarita High is talented. He has earned a scholarship to play at Stanford next season.

But he didn’t achieve that with a single-minded approach to volleyball. He brings out the best in his teammates with his well-rounded approach and care-free attitude.

And that attitude is evident in his other pursuits . . . like surfing and Ping-Pong.

“I wasn’t going to go to college outside of California,” Skacel said. “Stanford’s a great academic school and it’s only 45 minutes from Santa Cruz. Although the water is 50 degrees in the winter there, you just need the wetsuit.”

Skacel is also gleefully challenging Santa Margarita faculty members to Ping-Pong in the school’s ROTC room.

“I haven’t played him yet,” Eagle volleyball Coach Eddie Rapp said, laughing. “I’m scouting him out still. Some of the faculty want to ban him because he beats all the teachers. Marcus has made a name for himself there.”

Skacel has made his big mark in volleyball. And in Orange County, a place where the sport is serious business, complete with demanding high school and club coaches and parents, Skacel’s relaxed attitude helps rejuvenate his team.

“Get to know him and just being around him makes you want to laugh,” teammate Adam Breault said. “We’re just having fun out there, and that’s when we play our best.

“We could be getting killed, 14-1, and the coach is yelling at us. Then Marcus and I will look at each other and say, ‘This is stupid, let’s just have fun.’ Then we start coming back, playing better.”

Skacel has become one of the county’s finest players, though he isn’t super quick, a great leaper or an overpowering hitter.

“He has that sixth sense to figure out what’s going to happen before it happens,” Rapp said.

And his skills prompted another county coach to compare Skacel to one of the sport’s all-time greats.

“Marcus reminds me of Karch Kiraly because he’s so good in so many phases of the game,” said Dan Glenn, a coaching veteran at Newport Harbor, the county’s top-ranked team.

“Now I’m not saying Marcus is going to be as good as Karch. Marcus is not as dominating, but he’s a kid who’s going to get better too. His best volleyball is still ahead of him.

“Marcus could be a setter. He’s a good blocker, he’s an excellent passer, he mixes up his shots, covers the court real well and his defense is unbelievable,” Glenn continued.

“He has an aura that rubs off on his teammates and he wins. Those are signs of a great player.”

Skacel grew up in Laguna Niguel with his younger sister Caroline, who plays volleyball for the Santa Margarita girls’ varsity. The son of Ken and Jitka Skacel, who came to the United States from Czechoslovakia, honed his all-around skills playing on the beach since fifth grade.

That’s where Skacel met Breault, who said Skacel used to be “this big goofy kid.” They have been partners since the sixth grade and teamed to win the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals sponsored junior national tournament last summer in Florida.

So what did Skacel remember the most about that tournament? Playing in front of big crowds or on the main AVP stadium court?

“The sand,” Skacel said. “It was like 115 degrees on the court. But this was at Disney World, and those Disney guys had this special sand that didn’t get hot. It was awesome.”

The victory was great, but both players enjoyed the recreation.

“Other teams were taking it very seriously,” Skacel said. “Not to say that we didn’t too. But me and Adam were going to have fun while we were there. We went out every night, ate fast food. . . . I think some teams didn’t like that about us.”

That balance is something Rapp said makes his star player different.

“Great teams make great plays,” Rapp said. “Marcus wants to make the big shots, but when he misses, he just shrugs it off and goes for it the next time.”

Skacel and the Eagles want another shot at a Southern Section title when the playoffs begin Wednesday. Although Skacel said this team isn’t as talented as last season’s Division II champions, this season has been more rewarding.

“We all make each other better,” Skacel said. “We’re a smaller team, but it’s fun to dig balls and frustrate the other team.

“We won’t blow anyone out, but we can beat any team out there. We’ll be fired up and ready to go.”