Sangamon Sun

Illinois College Esports teams faced mixed results in their recent conference matchups on Monday. The Rocket League team lost to Wartburg College 1–4 in the Midwest Varsity Esports Conference (MVEC), while the Valorant squad secured a 2–0 victory over Southwest Minnesota State University in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC).

The Rocket League series began with Illinois College dropping the first game 0–4 but responding with a strong 4–0 win in Game 2. Despite this, they were unable to maintain momentum and lost the next three games by narrow margins, ending the series with only one win. This result puts pressure on the team’s upcoming season finale against Gustavus Adolphus, which will determine their chance at qualifying for the MVEC Championship LAN at Wartburg.

In individual performances, Dwight Duijneveld scored three goals, one assist, six saves, and eleven shots. Lucas Barry contributed two goals, three assists, ten saves, and sixteen shots. Glenn Conway added three goals, one assist, seven saves, and eight shots.

The Valorant team had a different outcome, controlling their match against Southwest Minnesota State University from start to finish. They won the first map, Haven, 13–11, with Carter "Cortle" Naeve securing a late defuse under pressure. The team completed the sweep on Ascent with a 13–6 win, led by Fray "Fray" Moulton’s performance.

In Valorant statistics, Carter Naeve had nine kills, twenty-seven deaths, thirteen assists, and two defuses. Ekko Nguyen posted twenty-eight kills and seventeen assists. Dwight Duijneveld recorded forty-seven kills and five assists. Jonest Eisfelder achieved thirty-nine kills and fourteen assists. Fray Moulton led with forty-one kills and sixteen assists.

The Rocket League team is scheduled to play Northwestern College on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., while the Valorant team will face Drury University next Monday at 8:00 p.m.