SAU takes down Olivet Nazarene in three sets
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Olivet Nazarene (IL) (6-14, 2-4) | 16 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
|
St. Ambrose (IA) (8-12, 3-5) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
St. Ambrose snapped its modest two-match losing streak with a 25-16, 25-22, 25-22 home win over Olivet Nazarene Thursday night in Lee Lohman Arena.
The Bees set the tone early, collecting 17 kills against just eight hitting errors, in the opening set. The Tigers managed just four total kills in that first set.
Mackenzie Grafton and Grace Beitzel combined for five kills during a five-point run that turned an 11-11 tie into a 16-11 SAU advantage. A few points later, behind the serving of Kenia Diaz Vega, the Bees ripped off six straight points to build a 23-14 cushion. Alexa Orozco, Beitzel and Ella Gatz each had a kill during the spurt. Kills from Orozco and Trenyce Bonner ultimately wrapped up the set.
St. Ambrose (8-12, 3-5 CCAC) built a sizeable 21-14 lead in the second. Olivet Nazarene (6-14, 2-4 CCAC) fought back, winning six of the next seven points to claw to within 22-20. A Tiger hitting error and a Grafton ace restored a 24-20 lead. ONU again closed to within two points at 24-22 before a serving error handing SAU a two-set lead.
The third set featured a similar script. The Bees went in front by as many as six points at 16-10 and led comfortably at 20-16 late. A 4-1 Tiger run closed the game to 21-20. The teams traded the next four points before a Beitzel kill gave St. Ambrose a match point at 24-22. Beitzel and Gatz then teamed for a block to close out the 3-0 victory.
Grafton had a big night, finishing with 16 kills and just five attack errors. She was also credited with two aces. Beitzel also reached double figures in kills, registering 14. Orozco finished with six kills, Gatz had five, Bonner ended with four and Kennedy Hugunin added three.
Ines Marques led the team with 21 assists. Haley Doucet had 16. Diaz Vega picked up a team-leading 13 digs while matching Grafton with two aces.
St. Ambrose will compete in the Missouri Baptist Classic next Friday and Saturday.