Esports 10/9/2025 11:46:00 PM

Blinn Valorant sweeps Northeast Iowa, but Buccaneers drop SSBU tilt to South Florida

The Buccaneers' Valorant team improved to 3-0 in NJCAA Esports play

Esports 10/9/2025 11:46:00 PM

Blinn Valorant sweeps Northeast Iowa, but Buccaneers drop SSBU tilt to South Florida

The Buccaneers' Valorant team improved to 3-0 in NJCAA Esports play

The Blinn College esports program split two matches Thursday.

The Buccaneers' Valorant squad earned a 2-0 shutout of Northeast Iowa Community College in an NJCAA Esports (NJCAAe) match, while Blinn's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate squad fell to the University of South Florida 2-0 in a National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) clash.

In its Valorant win over Northeast Iowa, Ilies Dolliazal, Milad Khorsandi, Hayden Rubino, Camdin Sims, and Brian Yang earned the best-of-three series victory.

The team improved to 3-0 in NJCAAe play.

Valorant is a tactical, team-based, first-person shooter set in a near-future world. Teams of five players choose unique agents with distinct abilities, combining shooting skills with strategic use of each agent's toolkit. Teams alternate between attacking and defending. Attackers aim to plant a spike at one of the designated sites, while defenders try to prevent this or defuse the spike if planted. The first team to win 13 rounds claims victory. If both teams reach a tie at 12-12, overtime is triggered, and the match continues until one team wins by two rounds, with teams alternating between attacking and defending in each overtime round.

On the opening map, Bind, the Bucs deployed a new addition to its team composition and looked sharp en route to a 13-0 shutout win.

"Our utility usage was precise, site takes were coordinated, and the communication across the roster was excellent," said Blinn assistant and Valorant coach Patrick Daley. "Every round played out on our terms, and Northeast CC never found a way to slow us down."

Blinn maintained momentum in the second map, Lotus, and prevailed 13-1 to close out the series.

"This sweep was exactly what we needed after the grind of our previous NACE match," Daley explained. "It reminded everyone of our potential when we play loose, confident, and connected. The team left the match energized and excited."

The Bucs continue their Valorant campaign with a NACE tilt against DePaul University at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Blinn's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team was also in action Thursday but fell to South Florida in a three-game set.

Gage Cole, Kiara Molina, James Rinehart, and Braeyelyn Mitchell competed for the Bucs.

Blinn fell to 0-5 in NACE Varsity Premier play.

"On paper, USF is one of the best teams in NACE, and tonight showed why," said Daley, who also coaches the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team. "Despite the loss, our players are proud of their effort and continued improvement. With two matches left in the season, they're eager to finish strong and grab another win to close things out on a high note."

Blinn resumes its Super Smash Bros. Ultimate season with a match against Loyola University-New Orleans at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 53 national championships since 1987.

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Players Mentioned

Ilies Dolliazal: Sophomore; Valorant

Milad Khorsandi: Freshman; Valorant

Hayden Rubino: Freshman; Valorant

Camdin Sims: Freshman; Valorant

Brian Yang: Freshman; Valorant

Braeyelyn Mitchell: Freshman; Overwatch/Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Gage Cole: Sophomore; Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Kiara Molina: Sophomore; Super Smash Bros Ultimate

James Rinehart: Freshman; Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Players Mentioned

Ilies Dolliazal
: Sophomore; Valorant

Milad Khorsandi
: Freshman; Valorant

Hayden Rubino
: Freshman; Valorant

Camdin Sims
: Freshman; Valorant

Brian Yang
: Freshman; Valorant

Braeyelyn Mitchell
: Freshman; Overwatch/Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Gage Cole
: Sophomore; Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Kiara Molina
: Sophomore; Super Smash Bros Ultimate

James Rinehart
: Freshman; Super Smash Bros Ultimate