The Blinn College esports team defeated Carl Sandburg College in its NJCAA Esports Overwatch regular-season finale Wednesday.
A 3-0 victory in the best-of-five series improved the Buccaneers to 7-0 in NJCAA Esports (NJCAAe) matchups this fall.
Competing for Blinn were Haluk Tanriseven, Donnivan Straight, Andrew Dugas, Matthew Hutchings, and Javier Amezcua.
Blinn assistant coach and Overwatch manager Kyle Murto said the Bucs’ unbeaten regular-season run can be attributed to his players’ understanding of Overwatch characters, play styles, and strategies.
“We went into this match fairly confident as we have a solid read on the current meta and what needs to be done for us to win,” Murto said. “From the first point we were on a tear and did not let up at any moment during the entire series.”
The Bucs will enter the NJCAAe playoffs as the tournament’s top seed. Blinn is looking to make a return to the NJCAAe Overwatch national championship match and is seeking its first title.
“Going into the playoffs undefeated is a good feeling, but it’s an expectation at this point for Overwatch,” Murto added. “Our sights are set on meeting Bryant & Stratton College in the national championship match once again. With the work we have been putting in, we are confident in our ability to go up against Bryant & Stratton.”
Bryant & Stratton owns a handful of postseason victories over Blinn Overwatch, including two victories in spring semester championship bouts.
Dates and match times for the NJCAAe Overwatch Tournament have yet to be announced.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 44 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
