[Men's Volleyball] St. Ambrose starts season at Pirate Invitational

St. Ambrose started its 2021 season as part of a loaded field at the Park Pirate Invitational. The Bees came up empty, losing three matches to begin the year 0-3.

The Bees' best chance came in their opener, a 3-2 loss to Clarke Thursday night. SAU led 2-1 after taking both the second and third sets. The Bees led as late as 18-17 in the fourth on a Skyler Marushige kill. But after a Nick Fox kill knotted the set at 19-19, the Crusaders won six of the final eight points to force a decisive fifth set.

In the fifth, neither team was able to build more than a two-point advantage as they exchanged points. But after a kill from Jeramie Gutierrez tied things at 13-13, back-to-back Clarke kills closed out the 25-23, 20-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-13 win.

Marushige led St. Ambrose with 12 kills. Jason Bageanis had 11, Gutierrez added 10 and Avery Clark added nine. Harry Khaira led all players with 42 assists. Gutierrez and Ricardo Ubior shared team-high honors with nine digs apiece.

The Bees opened Saturday with a competitive 25-17, 25-21, 25-20 loss to No. 3 Park.

Marushige put down a team-leading 11 kills. Gutierrez and Fox each collected four. Khaira was credited with 21 assists while Ubior came up with nine digs.

St. Ambrose got off to a good start before falling 23-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-23 to Missouri Valley, a team receiving votes in the NAIA top-10 coaches poll.

Marushige again led the way with 17 kills. Gutierrez ended with 13 and Bageanis added seven. Khaira had a match-best 32 assists. Ubior recorded 15 digs.

The Bees will open CCAC play Tuesday against Trinity Christian. SAU's home opener is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.