St. Ambrose fell behind early in each of the three sets in a 25-22, 25-16, 25-18 loss to Morningside Friday night in Lee Lohman Arena.

It was a slow start out of the gate that cost the Bees the opening set. With the set knotted at 1-1, SAU watched Morningside (8-6) score the next six points to go in front 7-1. St. Ambrose (1-17) battled back to get within two points at 23-21 and again at 24-22 before the Mustangs closed out the set.

The second set was tied 4-4 following a block from Mikolaj Zielonka and Charlie Flynn. But the next five points went to Morningside. The Mustangs gradually pulled away from there to take the two-set lead.

A Flynn kill had the teams even at 9-9 in the third. Morningside scored two straight and never looked back. SAU stayed within striking distance, trailing just 20-17 before the Mustangs won five of the final six points to close out the victory.

Jon Guch led the Bees with six kills. Cael Anderson had five and Zielonka finished with three. Flynn and Dan Rice had two apiece while Ethan Chausse and Brandon Edwards each put down one kill.

Andreas Indicatti Mariani had a team-best 12 assists. Chausse was credited with six. Ethan Karban picked up seven digs. Zielonka had five and Chausse four. Flynn was in on a team-high four blocks. Dillon Markley recorded two of the Bees' three aces.

St. Ambrose will return to conference action Saturday by hosting Viterbo. The match is slated to begin at 1 p.m.