Bees start the season with Fighting Bee Invitational wins
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Governors State (0-0) | 14 | 19 | 18 | 0 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#5 William Penn (IA) (1-2) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) (1-2) | 16 | 18 | 21 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Culver-Stockton (MO) (0-2) | 28 | 25 | 20 | 21 | 7 | 2 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) (2-2) | 26 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oakland City (1-0) | 25 | 25 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 3 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) (1-1) | 19 | 17 | 25 | 25 | 12 | 2 |
St. Ambrose started the season with two wins in the self-hosted Fighting Bee Invitational this weekend. The Bees opened the season on Friday with a 3-0 sweep over Governors State. Later that evening, SAU found themselves down 2-0 to Oakland City before they rallied to tie the match at 2-2 before eventually dropping the game 3-2. Earlier today, SAU spilt matches with a loss to No. 5 William Penn and a 3-2 victory over Culver-Stockton.
The Bees started their season redhot with a 25-14, 25-19, and 25-18 win over the newly organized Governors State. Freshman Pedro Zang smacked down 13 kills while Charlie Flynn followed right behind with a .889 kill percentage having converted eight-of-nine kill attempts. Chase Cline chipped in three daggers and five blocks. Anthony Anderson and Ethan Karban charged the defense with three digs each. Anderson's numbers rounded out with 25 assists.
SAU tried to roll that momentum into their second match, but Oakland City jumped all over St. Ambrose. The Bees battled with the Mighty Oaks and remained close until a Kam Dixon kill would be the last score for St. Ambrose in the first set. OCU scored the remaining five points to take the first set victory 25-19. OCU got ahead in the second set and the Bees never caught pace to drop that set 25-17 before SAU topped OCU in a close set three 25-22. The Bees ran with their momentum into set four and dominated 25-14 to force a final set. SAU went on offensive runs, but it was never enough in the 3-2 loss.
Earlier today, the Bees opened up play with a straight-set loss to No. 5 William Penn. St. Ambrose improved throughout each set, but never gathered their footing in the loss. St. Ambrose played the nationally ranked opponent close to a 25-21 final set. Cael Anderson and Zang each put down seven kills for St. Ambrose. C. Anderson also added seven digs defensively. Dixon scored for the Bees on six kills.
Four Bees earned double digit kills for St. Ambrose in the 3-2 victory over Culver-Stockton. Those Bees coming in C. Anderson (14), Michael Bos (14), Zang (15), and Dixon (16). St. Ambrose started slowly as they lost the opening two sets. Once the Bees found their offensive rhythm, it was all SAU the rest of the way eventually beating C-SC 15-7 in the deciding fifth set. Matt Cannon, A. Anderson, and Kainalu Ka'ahanui ran the offense with a combined 57 assists. Karban dominated the Bees' defense with 10 digs. Bos accounted for a team-high 18 points as he registered six blocks in the win.
SAU will hit the road this week as they travel to Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The first serve at Mount Mercy is slated for 7 p.m.