Playing at home for the first time this season, the Bees got off to a slow start and never recovered in dropping their CCAC opener to Trinity International 25-17, 25-21, 26-24 Tuesday night.

After winning the first two points, thanks to a Meredith Siebers ace and a Mackenzie Grafton kill, St. Ambrose watched Trinity International claim 11 of the next 12 points. Back-to-back kills from Grafton got SAU within 17-12 but the Bees would get no closer the rest of the set.

St. Ambrose trailed just 19-18 after a Jill Kavalauskas kill in the second. But the Trojans (1-2, 1-0 CCAC) responded with three straight points to grab a four-point cushion en route to taking a 2-0 lead.

The Bees dominated large portions of the third set. Kills from Siebers, Rachael Dion and Grafton came part of a five-point run that gave St. Ambrose a 10-6 lead. The lead remained four as late as 23-19. TIU clawed back to within 23-22 but a Siebers kill gave SAU a set point at 24-22. Unfortunately, that would be the Bees' final point of the night. The Trojans won the final four points to close out the 3-0 victory.

Grafton led St. Ambrose with 10 kills. Siebers finished with nine and Kavalauskas added eight. Amber Tomlin had a team-best 25 assists and came up with 14 digs. Maicee Pierce paced the team with 15 digs. Grafton (13) and Siebers (12) also collected double-digit digs. 

The Bees are off until a match at Trinity Christian next Tuesday.