For the second time this season, St. Ambrose built a two-set lead only to watch it fall apart.

Saturday, the Bees saw their two-match winning streak come to a close following a 14-25, 22-25, 25-11, 25-21, 16-14 loss to Mount Mercy in Lee Lohman Arena.

SAU (2-7) was in control throughout the first two sets. But after collecting 27 total kills against just 12 errors in taking the 2-0 lead, the Bees suffered a letdown in the third, putting down four kills against eight hitting errors. That, along with Mount Mercy upping its play, allowed the Mustangs to get back into the match.

St. Ambrose seemingly righted the ship in the fourth, grabbing an 18-15 lead. Then the Bees stalled. Mount Mercy (13-5) ripped off eight straight points to go in front 23-18. A late kill from Richard Reed and a block from Reed and Nick Fox weren't enough as the match headed to a decisive fifth set.

The Mustangs used a 4-1 run to go on top 13-8 in the fifth. Two kills from Fox and another from Skyler Marushige came part of a 6-1 Bee run that knotted the score at 14-14. But the momentum didn't last. Mount Mercy won the next two points to steal the victory.

Marushige and Fox led SAU with 12 kills apiece. Jason Bageanis put down nine kills, Jeramie Gutierrez had seven, and Reed and Jake Snyder each had five.

Snyder led all players with 39 assists. He also picked up nine digs. Jesse Moreno paced the team with 13 digs. Marushige recorded eight and Colin Teresi added seven.

St. Ambrose will return to CCAC play Monday with a match at No. 15 Saint Xavier.