A slow start to the season continued Thursday night as St. Ambrose fell to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the CCAC with a 25-15, 25-20, 25-22 loss to Judson at Lee Lohman Arena.

Judson (8-2, 2-0 CCAC), playing for the 10th time already this year, came out firing. The Eagles put down 16 kills against just three errors, for a .433 hitting percentage, to take the opening set.

The Bees bounced back in the second.

SAU led as late as 12-11, and even after Judson responded to go in front 16-12, the Bees battled back. Kills from Drew Hamlin and Jason Bageanis, and blocks from Bageanis and Mikolaj Zielonka came part of a 5-1 run that drew the teams even at 17-17. The rally stalled there as the Eagles ripped off three straight points and five of the next six to grab a 22-18 lead. Judson closed out the set five points later.

The third set was also competitive. SAU held a lead throughout the early stages of the set and was tied as late as 12-12. The Bees trailed just 22-20 following a Nick Fox block. St. Ambrose stayed close until the end, getting within 24-22 on a Zielonka kill before Judson wrapped things up.

Hamlin led the team with eight kills. Bageanis had seven and Zielonka and Fox each posted five. 

Jason Scribner collected 24 of the Bees' 25 assists. Jesse Moreno recorded eight digs, Hamlin and Colin Teresi had seven apiece, Richard Reed finished with six, and Scribner and Zack Denton picked up five each.

The schedule doesn't do St. Ambrose any favors as the Bees will next host No. 7 Jamestown Friday at 5 p.m. in the team's third match in four nights.