After surrendering seven straight points to drop the fourth set to squander a two-set lead, in the season opener on the road, St. Ambrose came up big down the stretch, earning a 25-18, 25-21, 22-25, 17-25, 15-10 win at Graceland Thursday night. It marked the fourth straight season-opening victory for the Bees.

It was a four-point run early in the fifth that proved to be the difference. Trailing 4-3, SAU received back-to-back kills from Ella Gatz and Meredith Siebers to take a lead they would not relinquish. Two straight Graceland errors upped the margin to 7-4.

The Bees maintained the lead from there. Mackenzie Grafton had two kills for a 10-7 lead. After the Yellowjackets closed to within 10-9, a service error and a solo block from Siebers rebuilt a 12-9 advantage. Siebers put down another kill for a 13-10 lead, and after a GU hitting error, Skyler Kuntzman closed out the win with her second ace of the match.

SAU appeared poised to close out the win in four sets, grabbing a 16-14 lead on a Siebers kill. But SAU would win just one more point the rest of the set as the Yellowjackets closed with an 11-1 run, which included seven straight points to extend the match.

Grafton (17) and Siebers (13) each collected double-digit kills. Meredith Umland had eight, Gatz and Kylie Brosius each finished with five and Adriana Diaz recorded four.

Hannah Sondag led all players with 39 assists while picking up 11 digs. She also had three kills and three blocks.

Siebers had a match-high 17 digs. Grafton and Lexi Huntley were each credited with 10. Audrey Witte picked up seven digs. Diaz, Brosius and Kaleigh Bergschneider each registered two. Gatz and Grafton matched Sondag with three blocks.

A busy start to the season continues Friday and Saturday when St. Ambrose competes in a tournament hosted by Park. The Bees will face McPherson Friday before taking on No. 6 Park and Morningside Saturday.