St. Ambrose dropped below .500 on the year following a 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 27-25 loss at Ottawa (Kan.) Saturday afternoon.

After the teams split the first two tightly-contested sets, the Bees used kills from Avery Clark, Skyler Marushige and Jeramie Gutierrez to build a 7-1 lead in the third. But following an Ottawa timeout, the Braves won 10 straight points for an 11-7 lead.

SAU (5-6) trailed just 18-17 following another Clark kill late in the set before Ottawa won back-to-back points and the Bees never threatened the rest of the set.

It was St. Ambrose who had to rally in the fourth. The Braves built a 12-6 lead but the Bees chipped away and ultimately tied the match at 22-22 on the first of two straight Dylan Herridge aces. His second ace gave St. Ambrose a 23-22 lead. SAU had a chance to force a fifth set but its set point at 24-23 was erased. The Bees fought off one match point before ultimately falling 27-25.

Marushige and Jason Bageanis led St. Ambrose with nine kills apiece. Clark had eight, Logan Havens finished with seven, Jake Snyder added five and Gutierrez recorded four.

Snyder led the team with 27 assists and Clark picked up a team-best 15 digs. Snyder and Havens were each credited with nine digs.

St. Ambrose will return home to host Lincoln in a non-conference matchup Monday.