Cloture is the only way the Senate can vote to end a debate without also rejecting the bill, amendment, conference report, motion, or other matter it has been debating.

A motion to table is nondebatable, and if passed by a majority, the matter under debate is not only tabled but rejected. Cloture allows the debate to be closed without rejecting the matter at hand.

Source: http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/98-425.pdf