The sixth-place finish qualifies the Buccaneers for the CECC South Invitational, which takes place between Friday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 23.
“I feel like this performance further solidified that our team is heading in the right direction,” Blinn assistant and Overwatch coach Kyle Murto said. “This is proof that a national title is very much a real possibility this year.”
The Buccaneers competed in six best-of-five-rounds matches Saturday and finished 3-3.
Blinn opened the day with a 3-0 victory over James Madison University behind the starting lineup of sophomores Gabriel Lopez, William Bowman, George Francis, and Aaron Lazo, and freshman Brandon Acevado.
Fifth-ranked University of Texas-Dallas defeated the Buccaneers, 3-0, in the second match of the day before defeating James Madison once again, this time 3-2.
In the fourth bout of the day, Blinn swept Clemson 3-0 with Ezekiel Bernheim subbing in for Lopez. Kennesaw State defeated the Bucs 3-0 in match five, and after Lopez returned for the sixth match, No. 12 Converse earned a 3-1 victory over the Bucs to end the day.
Overwatch opens its National Association of Collegiate Esports season against Colorado College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
