(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 6)—The McKendree University volleyball team posted a three-game sweep of visiting William Woods University Tuesday in the quarterfinal round of the American Midwest Conference Tournament. The Bearcats won by scores of 30-21, 30-19 and 30-27.

 

Sophomore outside hitter Lisa Witte (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles) had a match-high 11 kills to lead McKendree, the No. 3 seed in the tournament. The Bearcats, now 22-16 on the year, will head to Missouri Baptist University Thursday for a semifinal contest. The No. 2-seeded Spartans swept Hannibal-LaGrange College on Tuesday, 30-22, 30-21 and 30-21.

 

Against William Woods, McKendree used a late rally to take the first game. Trailing 19-17, the Bearcats scored 13 of the final 15 points in the contest. Junior middle hitter Katelyn Kombrink (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) had a pair of service aces to spark the McKendree comeback.

 

McKendree quickly built a double-digit lead in the second game and led by as many as 14 points before coasting to the win. Game three was a mirror image of the opening contest, as the Bearcats needed a late rally to complete the sweep. William Woods (8-20) led 23-19 before McKendree caught fire again, scoring four consecutive points to even the score at 23-23. The Bearcats then scored four more points later in the game to increase its margin to 29-25.

 

Kombrink, senior setter Allison DeGroot (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) and senior right-side hitter Jenilyn Wahlig (New Athens, Ill./New Athens) (New Athens, Ill./New Athens) connected for six kills each. Kombrink finished with a match-high five service aces, bringing her season total to 74. She needs just four to equal the Bearcats’ season record of 78, set by Karen Eversgerd in 1992.

 

DeGroot finished with a team-high 18 assists, and senior libero Courtney Aldridge (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) handled 17 digs.

 

Sarah Anderson led William Woods (8-20) with nine kills and 19 digs. Molly Dougherty posted a match-high 27 assists for the Owls.

 

 

McKendree                    30         30         30

William Woods              21         19         27

 

McKendree is now 22-16 overall