SAU suffers first CCAC loss in setback to Cardinal Stritch
St. Ambrose had its chances to remain one of just three conference unbeatens. But the Bees didn't convert enough of those chances in suffering their first CCAC loss of the season at the hands of Cardinal Stritch Thursday night at Lee Lohman Arena.
The young Bees slipped to 2-1 in the conference following the 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 loss.
SAU had opportunities in each of the three sets.
In the opener, the team battled back from an early three-point deficit to take a 13-10 lead on a Brea Cunningham kill. The lead remained three as late as 15-12 before the Wolves ripped off a five-point run on their way to pulling away to claim a 1-0 lead.
An Abby Happ kill gave St. Ambrose a 12-11 lead in the second set. Another Cardinal Stritch spurt, this time a 6-0 run, flipped the set. Jenny Koerner and Rachael Dion combined on a block to cut the deficit to 19-18, the first of four times SAU would get to within a single point down the stretch. The last of those came at 24-23 on another Happ kill before CSU closed out the set.
Strong serving in the third set gave the Bees their best chance of the night. Maicee Pierce and Happ each had back-to-back aces as part of a 7-1 run that broke a 12-12 tie and gave St. Ambrose a 19-13 advantage. But the Bees stalled there, watching the Wolves run off five straight points to close the gap to 19-18. After a Stritch error, Koerner put down a kill to restore a 21-18 lead. The teams exchanged points but with SAU holding the 22-19 lead, CSU put together what became a match-deciding 5-0 run before ultimately closing out the win a point later.
Happ and Koerner each collected 12 kills as the pair combined for 24 of the team's 30 kills. Dion had three, while Cunningham, Jessica Hemm and Payton Wendt each picked up one.
Amber Tomlin again led the way with 23 assists and recorded nine digs. Happ had a match-best 11 digs while Koerner matched Tomlin with nine. Grace McGrath was credited with six digs.
St. Ambrose (3-8) will visit Trinity International Saturday in another CCAC matchup. That match is slated to begin at 2 p.m.