(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 13)—The McKendree University volleyball team was defeated Thursday by Columbia College in the semifinal round of the American Midwest Conference Tournament. The top-seeded Cougars swept the best-of-five match versus No. 5 seed McKendree by scores of 25-12, 25-17 and 25-14.

The loss ends the Bearcats' 2008 season. McKendree finished the year with an overall record of 18-17. It marks the sixth consecutive year that the Bearcats have posted a winning record.

Senior right-side hitter Lindsay Amerson (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood) and sophomore middle hitter Carrie Brickey (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) (St. Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) each had a team-high five kills to lead the way for McKendree. Senior middle hitter Katelyn Kombrink (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) chipped in with four attacks. Senior setter Dana Maedge (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) handed out 10 assists, and junior outside hitter Andrea Lucas (Festus, Mo./Festus) (Festus, Mo./Festus) registered a team-best 11 digs.

Kombrink wraps up her McKendree career with 1,055 kills, which is fourth on the Bearcats' all-time list. In the Bearcats' AMC Tournament quarterfinal victory at William Woods on Tuesday, Kombrink took over the top spot on the team's all-time chart for service aces. She did not have an ace on Thursday and closed her career with 191.

Columbia, the No. 5 team in the latest NAIA poll, received a match-high 18 kills from Flavia Lino. Luana Branco added 31 assists for the Cougars.

McKENDREE UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL RESULT

THURSDAY, NOV. 13 AT LEBANON, ILL.

Teams                                      1          2           3

Columbia                                  25         25         25

McKendree                               12         17         14

McKendree finishes its season with a record of 18-17

Columbia is now 38-3 overall

-McK-