Playing the team that knocked them out of the CCAC Tournament quarterfinals a year ago, the Bees couldn't maintain a fast start and fell 25-18, 25-17, 25-19 to Indiana South Bend Thursday night. 

The loss dropped St. Ambrose to 5-5 overall and 1-2 in the CCAC.

Four different Bees had early kills, the last three coming from Jill Kavalauskas, as part of an 11-3 run to open the match. But after a Meredith Siebers kill put the lead at 13-8, Indiana South Bend (5-1, 3-0 CCAC) took control.The Titans ripped off 10 straight points to grab an 18-13 lead. 

SAU got as close as 18-16 after a Kavalauskas ace before IUSB closed the set by winning seven of the final nine points.

The Bees fell behind 4-0 to start the second. They closed the gap to two points as late as 18-16 on a Mackenzie Grafton kill before the Titans closed with a 7-1 run.

St. Ambrose led comfortably throughout the majority of the third set. The margin was as many as eight points at 16-8 and the lead was five at 18-13 on a Kavalauskas kill. But again the Bee offense stalled. The Titans took seven straight points to take a 20-18 lead, and after a Grafton kill, South Bend won the final five points to earn the win.

Kavalauskas and Grafton led SAU with eight kills apiece in the loss. Siebers finished with six.

Hannah Sondag had a team-high 19 assists and Maicee Pierce paced the team with 16 digs. Meredith Umland led the way with three total blocks.

The Bees will play at home for just the second time this season next Tuesday when they host Roosevelt.