St. Ambrose was able to recover from a sluggish start to defeat Indiana South Bend 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-23 Friday night in Lee Lohman Arena.

The Bees came out flat, totaling 11 kills and nine hitting errors in the opening set, and the Titans capitalized. IUSB (0-18, 0-3 CCAC) won seven of the first nine points and led throughout. Trailing 24-20, SAU (6-10, 1-3 CCAC) made things interesting as a kill from Haley Doucet and a block from Mackenzie Grafton and Kennedy Hugunin came part of a 3-0 run that closed the gap to 24-23 before the Titans took the set.

After the early struggles, St. Ambrose had just 14 attack errors combined over the final three sets.

It was a 5-1 run midway through the second set, fueled by a pair of Grace Beitzel kills, that put the Bees in front 16-12. After a Titan point, kills from Sofia Pabon Velazquez and Grafton helped push the advantage to 19-13. South Bend made a charge to get within 19-17 before St. Ambrose won six of the final eight points to even the match at a set apiece.

The Bees had to battle back from a 6-0 deficit to start the third set. The margin was 11-6 before SAU rallied. Grafton had three kills, Pabon Velazquez had one, and Hugunin was in on two blocks to key an eight-point spurt that put St. Ambrose in front 14-11. Yet the Bees would be forced to rally again. IUSB ripped off five straight points to go back in front 16-14. Down 18-16, SAU came back behind two kills each from Grafton and Beitzel and an ace from Ines Marques to take a 22-19 lead. And four points later, the Bees claimed the set.

Another late push was needed in the fourth. Indiana South Bend went up 21-18 late. Hugunin put down a kill and teamed with Grafton on a block to knot the score at 21-21. The set was tied as late as 23-23 before kills from Pabon Valezquez and Grafton handed the Bees the victory.

Grafton led the team with 18 kills. Beitzel finished with 12, Alexa Orozco had nine and Pabon Velazquez added eight.

Doucet was credited with 24 assists while Marques handed out 20. Kenia Diaz Vega (16), Grafton (13) and Orozco (13) each picked up double-digit digs.

St. Ambrose will host Governors State Tuesday.