Wolf Pack Overwatch wins Divisional Championship

NEW ORLEANS – Loyola's unbeaten Overwatch team swept its eighth straight opponent to win the Divisional Championship on Tuesday. The 9-0 Wolf Pack won the East 5 Division after a decisive 3-0 sweep over Texas A&M University-San Antonio. In Loyola's nine matches, the Pack only lost one set the entire season for a total set record of 27-1. Tuesday marks Loyola's first divisional championship in the three-year history of the Overwatch program.

With the match starting on Lijiang Tower, the Wolf Pack took quick control of the objective by holding off TAMUSA with a kill by Dashiell Hazzard. Matthew Marshall's Mauga helped hold down the defense until the opponents took control after an 88% lead by Loyola. Hazzard and Maya Hernandez notched two kills each to take back the point and seal the first-round victory.

Loyola kept its strong start going, capturing the objective to start round two. An ultimate by TAMUSA's Ashe helped them regain possession of the point, forcing the Wolf Pack to retreat. Texas A&M-San Antonio took an 80-40 lead over Loyola but three kills put the Pack in control. The opponents regained the objective, just one point from winning the round. However, a clutch Deadeye from Mark Violante sealed the win for Loyola, taking set one.

For set two, Loyola began on the defensive end of Blizzard World. TAMUSA started well, capturing the payload and taking it past the first checkpoint. Eliminations by Marshall, Hazzard, and Siren made a stop to set up a chance for victory in the second round. On the attacker's side, three kills by Violante's Widowmaker helped the Pack get the payload moving. TAMUSA managed to drain the clock for the Wolf Pack, but Loyola cruised for a second-set win.

The teams began the final set of the match in New Junk City. TAMUSA didn't let the Wolf Pack take victory easily, taking the first objective of flashpoint to start with a 1-0 lead. The Wolf Pack found its footing to tie the set, 1-1. Loyola held the third point until an ultimate by TAMUSA's Junker Queen nearly saved it. A Suzu from Stirling Downes offset any chance the opponents had, going up 2-1. From there, Loyola dominated the match to capture its third and final point, sealing the divisional championship.