DAVENPORT, Iowa - The Ashford University (22-18, 4-4 MCC) volleyball team saw its season come to a close on Wednesday at Lee Lohman Arena, falling in the Midwest Collegiate Conference semifinals against top-seeded St. Ambrose University (33-7, 8-0 MCC), 3-1.

The Saints' postseason run came to an end by a score of 20-25, 18-25, 25-15, 15-21, despite taking the third set from the regular season conference champion Queen Bees. It was the third meeting between the two programs this year.

With the win, St. Ambrose advanced to the MCC Championship final match on Saturday to face No. 3 seeded Viterbo University, which upset second-seeded Grand View University tonight, 3-2 on the Vikings' home court.

"It's tough to see the season come to a close, but in the third game we played Ashford volleyball," AU Head Coach Micah Cewe said. "In the first two games, we came out a little slow and we got down big. We just couldn't finish. St. Ambrose is a consistent team that doesn't make many mistakes."

Statistically speaking, Ashford bested SAU in hitting percentage, .222 to .221, represented by a team-high 11 kills from junior and reigning MCC Player of the Week Kelsay McCausland of Camanche.

Fellow juniors Allison Uceda of Lima, Peru, and Hanna Bruns of La Porte City, combined for 18 kills and freshman Sarah Wenzel of Clinton recorded nine kills. Freshman setter Liz Gbur of Darien, Ill., served up 35 assists.

St. Ambrose's Amy Royer led all players with 18 kills.

Even though the Saints were efficient on the offensive end and outhit the Queen Bees percentage wise, SAU nailed down 15 more kills than Ashford.

"Our juniors are determined to get further and work harder next year," Cewe said.

In front of their home crowd, the Bees opened the first set on an 11-2 run. AU had to rally late with a 6-1 run of their own to close the deficit to three (22-19), but St. Ambrose would take three of the set's last four points.

AU broke the third set wide open with the score at 10-8 in the Saints' favor. Four consecutive attack errors by the Queen Bees were sandwiched in the middle of a 6-1 AU run.

The Saints led for the first half of the decisive fourth set, but SAU rallied to tie at 15-all. There would be only one other tie the rest of the way out as St. Ambrose controlled the outcome.