DAVENPORT, IOWA – The Spartans collected their third win in as many days on Thursday after sweeping St. Ambrose University on the road. The men made quick work of the Fighting Bees, pushing their record to 4-0 to begin 2021.
 
Set one was a battle as both teams exchanged blows. The game was tied 6-6 and later at 11-11 before a Spartan kill and an SAU attack error put the Spartans in front 14-12.
 
Gabe Norsigian collected a kill and Drew Berthlett a block to increase the lead to 17-14. Senior setter Jason Harman kept the ball rolling with another block, making it 19-15. The Spartans would go on to take set one with a 25-19 final.
 
Set two saw the Spartans rush to a 7-3 lead that forced a timeout from the Bees. The home squad found some life, battling to a 15-12 mid-set score. Miljan Kastratovic ended the SAU scoring frenzy with a kill.
 
With renewed momentum, MBU was able to pull away at the end of the set. A block from Kastratovic put the 25th point on the scoreboard and gave his team a 2-0 lead heading into the third frame.
 
St. Ambrose would not go away without a fight in the third. This time they were the ones to jump out to a quick 4-3 lead. A service ace from Kastratovic a few plays later put the Spartans ahead 5-4, but the Bees took a 7-6 lead a few moments later.
 
An SAU service error and a kill from junior Daniel Borsi sent the Spartans on a small scoring run.
 
The Bees continued to battle. They worked the score back to 15-14 before Kastratovic again took the air out of their sails with a kill. The visitors maintained a small, one-point lead until a scoring run gave them breathing room.
 
 A kill from Borsi gave them a 20-16 lead. Kastratovic finished off the Bees with a serve that hit the top of the net and dropped in the perfect spot for an ace.
 
Kastratovic had quite the day with 16 kills, five digs, and two service aces. Borsi was not too far behind with eight kills and four digs. Norsigian came into the game leading the team in hitting percentage and had another efficient day with six kills on 10 attempts. Jason Harman supplied support on both sides of the ball with 33 assists and 12 digs.
 
The Spartans finish off their Iowa trip on Friday evening against Clarke University. The opening serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Dubuque, Iowa.