2023-24 Top 10 Moments
#7 - Valorant Posts Undefeated Fall Season

Under the direction of first-year head coach Trace Rutman, the Marian University eSports Valorant team quickly put their names on the map posting a perfect season in the fall.

The Sabres opened the year with convincing sweeps of Wartburg, Coe, UW-Eau Claire, and UW-River Falls.  The closest game to that point had been a 13-8 win in the first game against Coe.  The competition then picked up against Dunwoody College of Technology but Marian was able to stay perfect with a 13-7, 13-11 sweep.  The second map against the Hawks saw Marian lead just 12-11 before a diffuse in round 24 saw Marian finish off the sweep.  After a forfeit against Morningside, Marian headed into the postseason without dropping a single map.

Marian opened the divisional playoffs against Kansas State and opened the tournament with a dominating 13-2 victory.  The Wildcats would hand Marian its first map defeat of the season with a 13-9 win.  The Sabres were able to bounce back, however, and took a tightly contested third game 13-10.  The Sabres found themselves taking on Washington University in St. Louis in the semifinals but the Bears were no match for the Sabres as Marian went back to its sweeping ways with a 13-7, 13-8 win.

The division championship would be decided between Marian and Culver-Stockton but as much of the season went, the Sabres were just too much earning a 13-6, 13-1, 13-6 sweep to claim the NECC Championship.  Ryu Yang (Evolution) led the way for Marian with a combat score of at least 347 on each map.  He would also post a match-high 73 kills with 12 plants.  Tyron Moore (H1TBOX) had 69 kills and 12 first eliminations, while Andrew Burkhart had 39 kills and a match-high 39 assists.