(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 7)—Sophomore Katelyn Kombrink (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) had a big night as the McKendree College volleyball team rolled to a sweep of William Woods University in the quarterfinal round of the American Midwest Conference Tournament Tuesday at the Melvin Price Convocation Center. The Bearcats won by scores of 30-10, 30-28 and 30-25.

 

Kombrink posted 11 kills, three service aces and a career-high 16 blocks to help McKendree reach the AMC Tournament semifinal round. The No. 3 seeded Bearcats improve to 26-15 in the year and will head to St. Louis on Thursday to face No. 2 seed Missouri Baptist University. Match time is set for 7 p.m.

 

McKendree started strong in the first game, reeling off 15 consecutive points during one stretch to build a 28-9 advantage. William Woods (12-19) battled back and lead early in each of the final two games. However, the Bearcats rallied in each contest to hold off the Owls’ challenge.

 

Senior outside hitter Codi Dempster (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Twin Rivers) (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Twin Rivers) added nine kills and 16 digs for McKendree, while senior libero Marcy Gibson (Carbondale, Ill./Salem) (Salem, Ill./Salem) handled a team-leading 18 digs. Junior setter Allison DeGroot (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) dished out 32 assists. DeGroot pushed her season assist total to 1,609, which is just 47 shy of the Bearcats’ season record of 1,656, set by Lyndsey Hillyard in 2004.

 

 

McKendree         30         30         30

William Woods  10         28         25

 

McKendree is now 26-15 overall

William Woods is 12-19 overall