Playing at home for the first time this season, St. Ambrose fell to rival Augustana 25-12, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18 Monday night in Lee Lohman Arena.

The Bees shook off a slow start to make things competitive down the stretch. After collecting 15 total kills against 15 hitting errors combined over the first two sets, SAU put down 10 kills alone in the third. 

Behind the serving of Nick Fox, St. Ambrose (1-4) ran off a six-point run early in the third that turned a 4-3 deficit into a 9-4 advantage. Mikolaj Zielonka had two kills and a block during the run.

From there, SAU held off every Augustana (4-1) rally. The Vikings pulled to within a point at 21-20 before a Jon Guch kill restored a two-point lead. Then at 22-21, Guch and Fox combined on a block for a 23-21 lead. Finally, leading just 23-22, St. Ambrose used a Augustana hitting error to earn a set point, and Zielonka got the kill to extend the match.

The Bees led 6-4 early in the fourth following a Fox kill, but the Vikings answered by winning eight of the next nine points to grab a 12-7 lead. SAU never got closer than three points the rest of the way.

Fox and Guch led St. Ambrose with nine kills apiece. Zielonka recorded eight, Cael Anderson had six and Charlie Flynn added two.

Anthony Anderson paced the team with 20 assists while Ethan Chausse was credited with 11. Ethan Karban picked up a team-best 11 digs. Anthony Anderson and Guch each had six digs, Zielonka had five and Dillon Markley registered four. Fox was in on a team-best seven blocks.

St. Ambrose will continue a busy start to the season by hosting No. 10 William Penn Tuesday night.