Muenster volleyball mainstay Skyler Varga has just earned his way onto the Canadian national U19 volleyball squad. The Muenster School grade 12 student has been working toward the goal of competing at a national level since his earliest days of watching and playing the sport and has one more year of club and school play to hone his skills.

To say that Varga comes from a volleyball family would be an understatement. His parents Darren and Jewel are longtime fixtures in regional and provincial volleyball, and each of his siblings has found success in the sport. Devin and Lyndon, Skyler’s brothers, made their mark at Augustana University in Camrose, Alberta, and Lyndon has recently returned from a stint playing in Germany. Meanwhile, his sister Jenay is gearing up for a post-COVID return to the Lakeland College Rustlers. 

As the youngest in the dynasty, Skyler recalls being exposed to the sport at a young age.

“Everytime anybody had a game or practice, I’d be there watching or helping out. I also went to multiple volleyball camps, and that helped me to love the game really.”

His competitive spirit grew throughout his club and school volleyball years as he drew on the expertise of his Muenster Cougar and Sask Club coaches as well as that of his parents. That determination led to his involvement with Team Sask. That connection led to the next step, Varga explains.

“I was lucky enough to play at the Canada Cup in Halifax where Team Canada coaches were watching, and fortunately they sent me an invitation.”

Skyler will be playing for the U19 squad once competition is allowed to ramp-up in a post-COVID environment. For the time being, the young athlete has been engaged with the Canadian team through virtual means. 

“While we haven’t started the ‘online’ training yet, it includes mental and tactical training, sport nutrition, strength and conditioning training - all the basics to get us ready for competition. The team will be together in one big ZOOM meeting.”

All national play has been suspended for this summer, but Varga is hopeful that when the team selection process is done next spring, the pandemic will have subsided to the point that competition can resume. If not, it will be a continuation of online contact and more optimistic training.

In the meantime, Varga is excited about the prospect and anxious to get to work in whatever capacity Team Canada can muster.