REDLANDS, Calif. - The University of Redlands Esports teams delivered an exciting Homecoming Weekend performance, finishing with a 2-1 record across three major matchups. The Valorant team led the charge, securing back-to-back victories against Western New Mexico University, 13-2 and 13-6. Kicking off their season strong, the Hearthstone team followed with a 3-1 win over the University of Central Florida. Despite a hard-fought effort, the Super Smash Brothers squad fell 2-0 to a strong Utah State lineup.

Hearthstone (W, 3-1)
The team opened up their season in impressive fashion beating University of Central Florida 3-1.  It was a dominant performance by the Bulldogs and was nearly perfect despite Rafael de Guzman (Philippines) missing one to two turns where he could have kept up the pressure.  A highlight from the match was de Guzman pulling off a priest combo on warrior.       

Valorant (W, 13-2 & 13-6)
The Valorant team put together a great effort on the weekend highlighting the matches sweeping Western New Mexico 13-2 and 13-6 taking the best of three match-up.      
Six Bulldogs competed in the event including Shelby Perez-Harrison (San Bernardino, CA) "hardlyduckie", Matthew Duncan "DoomedPancake88", Asia Campbell Shepherd "MimikyuNalu", Demario Anderson "Soundwavez", Luca Clarke "jomomoj", and Jackson Schulein (Santa Ana, CA) "Leonidas0703".

Western New Mexico was a tough competitor, but they were no match for the Bulldogs' gunplay.  Each match was competitive, but the Bulldogs were able to outplay the Mustangs to earn the sweep.  Everyone played well on the afternoon with great communication taking place inside the arena, which allowed the Maroon and Grey to out maneuver the Mustangs on the save rounds in order to pull off the victory.    
  
Super Smash Brothers (L, 2-0)
The Super Smash Brothers team put together a great effort but came up short against Utah State falling 2-0 on Saturday.

Seven Bulldogs competed on the day including Isaiah Rivera (Beaumont, CA) "GOS23", Jude Holling (Sylmar, CA) "Baku", Blake St. Lawrence (Burlingame, CA) "C Zure Boy", Wayne "Dry Water", Lucas Boticelli-Glassman (New York, NY) "Shineko", Justin Ibarra Ramayo (San Bernardino, CA) "JJWinz", and Jordan Stanford (Pelham, NY) "Turtle".    
 
Rivera started playing against a Pyra Mythra.  He lost with only one stock left sending in Holling and Boticelli-Glassman to take the last stock, which was taken by Holling.  This then forced the game to go off of the map.  Left with only one stock Holling then began a battle with the next character K. Rool, which he ultimate lost too. 

St. Lawrence then came in next.  He played tough eventually losing but was able to take two stocks off of his opponent K. Pool.  The Bulldogs then sent in Jaeden who took off the final stock before taking on "Cloud" who he took down with one stock remaining.  But this momentum did not carry over as he would fall to Utah States final character "Samus". 

Game two started with Wayne taking on "Pyra Mythra" against their "K. Rool".  The Bulldogs lost, not being able to take any stocks off of their opponents.  Stanford then came in and took on "Zelda".  Stanford was able to get one stock off of K. Rool before being subbed out for Boticelli-Glassman who also took one stock.  But those were the only two stocks taken as the rest of the match-ups would go to the Big Blue.  The final match-up came with Ibarra Ramayo taking on "Grenninja".