Tough early-stretch continues at Siouxland Invitational
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
McPherson (6-1) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) (2-5) | 23 | 16 | 19 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#9 Jamestown (4-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) (2-6) | 17 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dickinson State (ND) (3-3, 0-0) | 25 | 19 | 26 | 25 | 3 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) (2-4, 0-0) | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dakota Wesleyan (SD) (2-4) | 15 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) (2-3) | 25 | 18 | 22 | 15 | 1 |
A challenging early-season stretch continued as St. Ambrose dropped four matches at the Siouxland Invitational in Sioux City, Iowa, Friday and Saturday. The Bees fell 3-1 to both Dakota Wesleyan and Dickinson State and dropped 3-0 decisions to McPherson and No. 9 Jamestown.
Dakota Wesleyan 3, St. Ambrose 1 (15-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-15)
St. Ambrose got off to a great start but couldn't maintain that pace in a tournament-opening loss to Dakota Wesleyan. Mackenzie Grafton led the team with 13 kills. Grace Beitzel had 10, Trenyce Bonner finished with seven and Kennedy Hugunin added five. Ines Marques came up with a team-best 29 assists. Grafton and Kenia Diaz Vega each picked up 17 digs. Bonner and Hugunin had four blocks apiece.
Dickinson State 3, St. Ambrose 1 (25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22)
After splitting the first two sets, SAU had a chance to grab a 2-1 lead. A four-point run, fueled by three Mackenzie Grafton kills, gave the Bees a late 22-21 lead. St. Ambrose ultimately earned a set point at 24-23 but would not score again as Dickinson State scored the next three points to steal the set. SAU appeared poised to knot the match in the fourth by building a 6-1 lead behind a pair of Trenyce Bonner kills, and later, a 15-7 advantage. But DSU ripped off an 8-0 run to tie the score at 15-15. Back-to-back Grace Beitzel kills put the Bees in front 22-21 before Dickinson State again rallied late, winning the final four points to close out the match in four.
Bonner (13), Grafton (12) and Beitzel (12) each reached double-digit kills. Ines Marques collected 37 assists. Kenia Diaz Vega had a team-best 18 digs. Alexa Orozco picked up 16.
McPherson 3, St. Ambrose 0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-19)
Trenyce Bonner and Mackenzie Grafton each put down eight kills in a three-set loss to McPherson. Kylie Brosius had seven kills, Grace Beitzel five and Kennedy Hugunin four. Ines Marques recorded 22 assists. Kenia Diaz Vega collected a team-best nine digs. Bonner and Grafton each picked up seven digs, Marques added six and Alexa Orozco had five.
Jamestown 3, St. Ambrose 0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-16)
The two-day event ended with a three-set loss to No. 9 Jamestown. Mackenzie Grafton finished with almost half of the team's total kills, totaling 12 of SAU's 25. Grace Beitzel picked up five and Trenyce Bonner added four. Ines Marques had nine assists and Haley Doucet was credited with six. Grafton paced the team with eight digs. Kenia Diaz Vega registered seven.
After a brief break, the Bees will play their home and conference opener Tuesday, Sept. 10, against Judson. The match will begin at 7 p.m.