[Women's Volleyball] SAU runs out of gas in loss to Olivet Nazarene

After matching Olivet Nazarene point-for-point over the first two sets, St. Ambrose ran out of steam over the final two sets in a 3-1 loss Tuesday night in Lee Lohman Arena. The Tigers pulled away for the 25-22, 23-25, 25-15, 25-9 victory.

ONU won five of the final seven points to break a 20-20 tie and claim the opening set. SAU came back and played its best volleyball in the second, recording 13 of their 38 total kills in the set.

The teams were again tied at 20-20. The Tigers pulled ahead for a 22-20 lead, but this time, the Bees had the answer. Kills from Meredith Siebers and Mackenzie Grafton knotted the score at 22-22. Then Grafton and Payton Wendt teamed for a block and a 23-22 lead. Another Grafton kill gave St. Ambrose a set point, and two points later, Siebers put down a kill to even the match at a set apiece.

SAU went silently from there as ONU raced to leads of 5-1 and 6-1 over the final two sets to close out the match in four.

Grafton led St. Ambrose with 13 kills and picked up 11 digs. Jill Kavalauskas added 11 kills. Siebers (four kills), Wendt (three), Rachael Dion (three) and Meredith Umland (two) combined for 12 kills. Emily Pobanz and Amber Tomlin were each credited with one kill.

Tomlin also had a team-best 28 assists. Hannah Sondag had three. 

Maicee Pierce finished with a team-leading 25 digs. Kavalauskas and Tomlin each had nine and Sondag picked up eight.

The Bees, now 14-10 overall and 6-7 in the CCAC, will continue a busy week with a home match Thursday against St. Francis at 7 p.m.