Having lost twice already this season after holding a two-set-to-none lead, St. Ambrose made sure it didn't happen a third time Friday night.

Jason Bageanis had five kills in the final set and Richard Reed added three as the Bees pulled out a 25-23, 25-23, 14-25, 23-25, 15-13 win at Morningside.

Bageanis collected two kills and a block, and Reed and Jake Snyder each had a kill, to help the Bees to a 5-2 lead in the fifth. It was a lead they maintained the rest of the way. Morningside (3-12) got within a single point late at 14-13 before a Nick Fox kill handed St. Ambrose the victory.

"What a match," SAU head coach Ray Green said. "Everyone played his role to the highest level and really showed a commitment to team volleyball. I'm proud of these guys!"

It didn't appear the Bees would need five sets after they survived the first two.

In a back-and-forth set, St. Ambrose grabbed a late 23-21 lead. Morningside rallied with two straight points before a kill from Bageanis and an ace from Matt Pettke gave the Bees the set.

SAU controlled much of the second. A Reed kill put the lead at 23-15 late. The Mustangs rallied. An 8-1 run closed the gap to a single point at 24-23 before a service error handed St. Ambrose the set.

After dropping the third set, the Bees had a chance to close out the match in four. Trailing 23-18, St. Ambrose battled back. Kills from Colin Teresi and Fox came part of a 5-1 run that pulled the Bees to within 24-23. But the rally ended there as Morningside forced a fifth set.

Behind the play of Bageanis and Reed, SAU regrouped in the fifth to get the win.

Bageanis and Reed each finished with 15 kills. Fox had nine, Jeramie Gutierrez added seven and Mikolaj Zieolonka ended with six.

Snyder led the team with 47 assists. Reed and Jesse Moreno each paced the team with eight digs. Teresi, Snyder and Pettke each picked up seven digs. Fox was credited with 11 digs.

St. Ambrose returns to conference play Tuesday when the Bees host Roosevelt.