St. Ambrose took a 2-1 lead but was unable to close out Cardinal Stritch in a 14-25, 25-15, 20-25, 25-14, 16-14 loss in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday night.

The Wolves (13-10, 7-3 CCAC) led throughout the fourth set to force the decisive fifth set. The Bees started the final set strong, winning the first two points on a Cardinal Stritch error and a kill from Abby Happ.

But CSU responded with a six-point run to take a 6-2 lead. The deficit grew to as many as six points at 12-6. Down 14-10, SAU rallied. Two kills from Devan Porter, a block from Happ and Breanne Cunningham, and a Wolves' hitting error erased the four match points and tied the set at 14-14.

Momentum stopped there. A CSU kill earned a fifth match point and Porter's final attack attempt sailed wide as the Wolves survived 16-14.

The loss dropped the Bees to 7-15 overall and 3-8 in the CCAC.

Porter led the Bees with 16 kills while Riley Hummert finished with 14. The two combined for 10 of the team's 13 kills in the third set that gave St. Ambrose its 2-1 lead. Happ chipped in with six total kills.

Morgan Twing led the team with 32 assists while also picking up nine digs, a number matched by Hummert. Emma Marshall collected a team-best 10 digs.

The Bees will face a pair of nationally-ranked opponents at a tournament hosted by Grand View Saturday. SAU will play No. 18 Saint Francis (Ind.) at 9 a.m. and No. 24 Providence at 1 p.m.