Russo-Larsson versatile for Sage

This boys’ volleyball season, Mattias Russo-Larsson has shown his versatility for Sage Hill School’s team.

Once a rock-solid libero, he’s now the Lightning’s go-to outside hitter. But adapting and excelling in new situations isn’t anything new to Russo-Larsson.

He’s prolific.

On the court, he runs that way, slides this way, sacrifices his body for a dig or hits a set with all his might.

Off the court, he could be described as a renaissance man. He’s not just a lover of the arts, he’s an artist.

Russo–Larsson can play the piano — he’s composed pieces. He also mixes music. Right now he’s hooked on digitally meshing industrial and house music with hip-hop beats.

He’s also into film and graphic design. “A little bit of everything,” he says.

The 17-year-old is already an entrepreneur. He’s in charge of a small T-shirt company, eco & friends.

“It’s 100% eco-friendly,” he says. “And, it’s a way for me to use my art work.”

Russo-Larsson also has 10% of the profits go to Trees for the Future, an organization dedicated to planting trees around the world.

During his spring break, this week, he’s on the East Coast visiting art schools, as well as four-year universities so he can continue to play volleyball. Friday he was in Providence, R.I., visiting the Rhode Island School of Design.

Extending his education? Why bother? He already seems to be ready for the world.

“There’s still so much to learn,” he says.

This after taking a year off at Sage Hill to attend school in Stockholm, Sweden. When it comes to athletics for the Lightning, Russo-Larsson is in his fourth year. But in academics at the small private school in Newport Coast, he’s a junior.

He was held back a year after spending 10 months — from August of 2008 to May of 2009 — in Sweden, where he attended Östra Real Gymnasium. Russo-Larsson, known as a passionate competitor among the Lightning, realized he would be forced to sacrifice an athletic year. But it didn’t really make him hesitate to leave.

“I got an opportunity to see the world,” Russo-Larsson says. “That [statement] might be a bit much, but I was in a different culture. It gives you a different perspective. The way they approach culture is totally different. That allows me to think about my life.

“I’m a year back, but it was totally worth it. I grew so much from that experience.”

Playing in his final year of athletics at Sage Hill, Russo-Larsson has done his best to perform at a high level. During the winter sports season, he helped the Lightning boys’ soccer team reach the CIF Southern Section Division VII quarterfinals. Sage Hill just missed on advancing to the semifinals, losing on PKs. Still, it was a great season that featured a sweep of rival St. Margaret’s.

He then successfully made the transition into volleyball. Before, he kept to himself, fulfilling the role of a sound libero. But he’s now a leader as an outside hitter.

He definitely led last week, as he got Sage Hill off to a great start in the Academy League.

He recorded 21 kills, 11 digs and two blocks in a four-set win over Crean Lutheran South March 29. Two days later, the Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week had 17 kills and 13 digs in a four-set triumph against Oxford Academy.

“He’s become our go-to guy despite the fact that he’s [5-foot-11],” Sage Hill Coach Dan Thomassen said. “He has adjusted really well, and he has a good hitter mentality. He has always been extremely competitive. He just has that next level of competitiveness.”

Thomassen needed Russo-Larsson’s leadership and tenacity this season. The Lightning’s top hitter Bayle Smith graduated last spring. Two seasons ago, standout Joey Booth transferred to Corona del Mar High.

“I’ve always played libero, but this year we needed someone to play outside,” said Russo-Larsson, who also competes for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club. “This gave me a chance to use my versatility and gain more volleyball experience. It’s a little bit of a different side of it.”

There seems to be so many sides to Russo-Larsson.