Sangamon Sun

Illinois College Esports recently faced a challenging series against Buena Vista, ultimately losing 1-2 in their latest MVEC Valorant match. The series featured moments of strong play from Illinois College, despite the final outcome.

In Game 1 on Fracture, Illinois College secured a decisive 13-3 victory. Key players Dwight "Rhunn" Duijneveld and Noah "Ponyboy" Horsman were instrumental, combining for 51 kills and only 12 deaths. This performance gave Illinois College an early advantage with a 1-0 lead in the series.

The tide turned in Game 2 on Lotus, where Illinois College fell short with a score of 10-13. Despite notable efforts from Ekko Nguyen, JC Izaguirre-Gomez, and Carter Naeve, who together contributed 41 kills, the team was unable to maintain their momentum.

The final game on Abyss ended in a 7-13 defeat for Illinois College. The team struggled offensively, trailing at halftime with a score of 4-8. This deficit proved difficult to overcome in the second half.

With this loss, Illinois College holds a record of 0-5 in MVEC play and is currently positioned in sixth place. However, they remain contenders for the playoffs. A likely matchup against Coe College awaits them as they aim to secure an upset and qualify for the LAN tournament at Simpson College. The team is focused on improving before the playoffs begin.

Looking ahead, Illinois College Valorant will compete again in MEC action before entering MVEC playoffs. Their next match is scheduled against Ohio State University on Thursday, February 20th at 7:00 pm.