PREP VOLLEYBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : Fountain Valley Stages Wild Comeback to Get Past Irvine

Irvine looked stunned. Fountain Valley’s coach couldn’t explain it.

But Baron middle blocker Dave Arvesen had only three words after watching his team’s thrilling five-game victory.

“That was insane,” Arvesen said.

No one would have blinked if Sunset League champion Fountain Valley had bowed out of the Southern Section Division I boys’ volleyball playoffs after Tuesday’s second-round match. But the Barons rallied after trailing two games to one and facing a 14-12 deficit in Game 5.

But Fountain Valley (16-2) didn’t flinch. At least Coach Lori Biller’s players didn’t after posting a 15-13, 7-15, 10-15, 15-12, 17-15 victory.

“I don’t know where this one came from,” Biller said. “The guys keep telling me they’re going to make me a comeback coach. I don’t like this kind of match. But when we were down, the guys were out there smiling.”

The Barons had plenty to celebrate after Kurt Seckington, who had 76 assists, blocked Jeff Miller at match point. Middle blocker Phil Domingo had nine of his 20 kills in Game 5 and Chris Kosty (29 kills) and Ed Ratledge (27 kills) provided the firepower to help the Barons advance.

Fountain Valley will play San Clemente in the quarterfinals Friday although one of its top players, Arvesen, watched from the sideline.

Arvesen, an All-Sunset League middle blocker last season, has been sidelined after being diagnosed with a heart arrythmia. According to Biller, Arvesen has a similar heart condition to the one that former Loyola Marymount basketball player Hank Gathers had. Gathers died playing college basketball in 1990.

“It’s a condition that’s caused by adrenaline,” Biller said. “So Dave can’t do anything that would stimulate that.”

Just watching Tuesday’s match made Arvesen nervous.

Mark Ramirez (33 kills), Luke Carlson (23 kills, five blocks) and setter Grant Donaldson (80 assists) helped Irvine (15-3) take control with convincing victories in games 2 and 3.

“Irvine is so well-coached, it’s hard to find a weakness,” Biller said.

If the Barons didn’t find the weakness, they still found a way to win. Fountain Valley also trailed, 15-14, in Game 5 but still managed to rally.

“It might be harder watching than playing,” Arvesen said.