NEW ORLEANS – After reaching the playoffs in their first season of play in the fall, the Pack reached postseason play once again in the spring. This time, No. 14-seeded Loyola faced No. 3-seeded Wichita State University. On Thursday, the Wolf Pack fell to the Shockers in a two-set decision.
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The Pack began the match with Nathan Long as Rosalina & Luma. Against Peach, Long won a close one, surviving with a stock. Then, WSU's Mega Man took Long's last stock. Then, Mega Man took down Shawn DeJesus's Kazuya, losing one stock in the process.Â
Then, Loyola brought out their anchor, Owen Salinas, who quickly took down Mega Man's two remaining stocks. WSU's R.O.B. managed to win a close matchup against Salinas' Luigi. Anthony Nodolski was next up for the Pack, taking down R.O.B.'s last stock, losing two of his own. Then, WSU's Pac-Man took down Nodolski's Olimar in the final fight of the crew battle, taking a 1-0 lead to start the match.
Pac-Man returned to start the second set, managing a narrow victory over Nodolski. WSU's second-set starter continued his run, defeating Nathan Long. Ameer Joseph did not let Pac-Man's run continue as he took down the fighter from the 1980s, 1-2. WSU's Peach did not let Joseph's Bayonetta stay in the ring, taking him down, 1-0.Â
Owen Salinas entered the fight as Loyola's last chance. Salinas made a statement, sweeping Peach to reach the final round unscathed. Then, WSU made an unconventional choice of fighter, bringing the Ice Climbers to take on Salinas' Luigi. In a close fight, the Shockers came up with the win, defeating Salinas with one stock left.
Results
First Crew Battle:
Rosalina & Luma (Nathan Long) def. Peach (WSU), 3-2
Mega Man (WSU) def. Rosalina & Luma (Nathan Long), 1-0
Mega Man (WSU) def. Kazuya (Shawn DeJesus), 3-1
Luigi (Owen Salinas) def. Mega Man (WSU), 2-0
R.O.B. (WSU) def. Luigi (Owen Salinas), 3-2
Olimar (Anthony Nodolski) def. R.O.B. (WSU), 1-2
Pac-Man (WSU) def. Olimar (Anthony Nodolski), 1-0
WSU leads match, 1-0
Second Crew Battle:
Pac-Man (WSU) def. Olimar (Anthony Nodolski), 3-2
Pac-Man (WSU) def. Rosalina & Luma (Nathan Long), 3-0
Bayonetta (Ameer Joseph) def. Pac-Man (WSU), 1-2
Peach (WSU) def. Bayonetta (Ameer Joseph), 1-0
Luigi (Owen Salinas) def. Peach (WSU), 3-0
Ice Climbers (WSU) def. Luigi (Owen Salinas), 3-2
WSU wins match, 2-0
With the Wolf Pack's spring season coming to a close, Loyola earned a 4-2 regular-season record, along with a postseason victory and made the playoffs for the second-straight season. Loyola's Overwatch team also had a successful season, garnering a 4-2 regular-season record, and getting their first-ever playoff victory.
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