Pedro Zang, Michael Bos, and Kam Dixon all hit for double-digit kill numbers to propel the Bees to a 3-2 victory over the V-Hawks of Viterbo University yesterday evening in Lee Lohman Arena. SAU is now 1-0 in conference play and 8-7 in regular season matches. 

St. Ambrose started the opening set strong and then their offensive power lulled throughout the next two sets which allowed Viterbo to regain the lead. Then, SAU finished out the match strong as they secured the last two sets for a conference victory. The Bees dominated the final set 15-7.

SAU ran away with the first set victory as they accumulated a .353 kill percentage throughout the set. St. Ambrose doubled-up the V-Hawks at several points throughout the set and even led as much as 23-10 before putting away Viterbo 25-13. 

The second set was a different story as Viterbo regained their footing and played St. Ambrose close. The Bees owned the early lead on the V-Hawks, but Viterbo tied the set at eight all and then went on a five-point stretch. SAU was never able to recover from that stretch. Then, Viterbo hit the Bees again with another five-point run. St. Ambrose battled and had two three-point runs of their own late in the set, but it was too late and not enough. SAU dropped the second set 18-25.

Much of the third set was similar to the prior set as St. Ambrose and Viterbo were tied nine times throughout the 25 points. The Bees tied up the V-Hawks at 20-20, and then allowed a five-point stretch and dropped the set 25-20. This allowed Viterbo to regain control of the match with a 2-1 lead.

Both sides battled it out in the fourth set where SAU forced an extra fifth set with the 25-22 victory. The entire set was back-and-forth until a three-point stretch forced the Bees into a timeout as they trailed 11-9. Out of the timeout, the V-Hawks continued to pressure the Bees with another offensive run. But, St. Ambrose answered back to tie the set at 18-18, and then rallied off the final five-of-eight points to give the Bees a chance to win it all in the final deciding set.

In the decision set, the Bees started ahead and never looked back. Six straight points backed by Dixon and Zang extended the Bees lead to 12-5. Dixon and Zang combined for four kills during that stretch. Felipe Prieto accounted for two service aces through that stretch. SAU captured the victory in the set 15-7 and defeated the V-Hawks in close sets 3-2. 

Zang led the way offensively for the Bees with 20 kills. Bos and Dixon both accounted for 14 putdowns each. Charlie Flynn added in eight kills.

Anthony Anderson came away with 28 assists while Prieto trailed right behind with 23. 

Defensively, Ethan Karban ran the back line for SAU with seven digs. Zang and Dixon each added in five digs apiece. 

Zang accounted for four assist blocks as Flynn, Cael Anderson, and Bos each added in three assist blocks.

St. Ambrose will look to build off this momentum for tomorrow's match as they host conference foe Trinity Christian at 7 p.m. in Lee Lohman Arena.