Mater Dei Comes Back to Win in Five Games

Mater Dei, the eighth-ranked boys’ volleyball team in Orange County, lost the first two games before rallying to defeat fifth-ranked Capistrano Valley, 13-15, 6-15, 15-7, 15-7, 15-10 in a South Coast League match Tuesday at Mater Dei.

Mater Dei’s Andy Bice blocked Drew Carson on match point to cap the comeback for the Monarchs (11-2, 6-1 in league), who lost in five games to the Cougars (9-3, 7-1) in their first league meeting.

Bice, who had 13 kills and 11 blocks, and Pat Cope, who had 17 kills and 13 digs, helped spark Mater Dei, on and off the court.

“We had nothing to lose so we said, ‘Just go for it.’ ” Bice said. “But after those first two games, I had no doubt we would win. I could just see it in my boys, a spark in their eyes, I don’t know . . .”

Bice’s premonition looked good from the beginning of the third game.

Mater Dei won the first six points of Game 3 before eventually winning by nine points. In the next game, the Monarchs raced to an 8-3 lead to help force Game 5.

In the fifth game, Cope served for four consecutive points to give the Monarchs control. Mater Dei took a 12-5 lead after Brian Costanzo (13 kills, six blocks) made a great dig then Pat Duchene (19 kills) put away a spike to cap the four-point run.

Capistrano Valley had control early, winning the first 11 points of the second game en route to a two-games-to-none lead behind Kevin Frantz (22 kills) and Paul Johnson (17 kills, five blocks).

Then Mater Dei made some changes, among them, having Brian Costanzo, who plays opposite, occasionally set the offense.

“We just gave them a different look,” Mater Dei Coach Tom Costanzo said, “After the first two games, I didn’t say anything, really. It was the kids.”