esports 3/25/2025 11:38:00 AM

Hawks Dominate Southern Virginia to Open Playoffs

Palatine, IL: The Hawks eSports Valorant team wasted no time making a statement in their playoff opener, dismantling Southern Virginia in a completely one-sided 2-0 sweep. With lopsided scores of 13-1 and 13-2, the Hawks left no doubt that they are locked in for their postseason run.

The series was a masterclass in control, with Giovanni Romero (polar_bear) showcasing his impeccable game sense and survival skills. Across both games, he was taken down only eight times—just two deaths in Game 1 and six in Game 2—an impressive feat in a 29-round series.

Patrick Olechno (Sloth), as expected, led the charge once again. No matter how much opponents prepare, he remains an unstoppable force, proving that when he's unleashed, there's simply no containing him.

Meanwhile, Emil Zhumagaliyev (Podpivas) capitalized on SVU's crumbling composure, delivering a series of dominant rounds with multiple kills that made it look effortless. At one point in Game 2, he was on pace to claim match MVP—until Sloth decided he wasn't having that and turned things up a notch to secure the honor once again.

SVU managed to win only a single round outright, with just one other round in Game 1 coming remotely close. The Hawks controlled every aspect of the match, leaving no room for doubt.

"This was a fantastic way for us to start the playoffs," said Coach Don Curley. "We aren't looking at Nationals or the West Playoff Finals. We are looking at who's next, and that's College of Eastern Idaho."

Eastern Idaho took down Cornell College 2-0—an opponent the Hawks battled through a tough three-game series against in the regular-season finale. With a challenging matchup ahead, Harper will need to stay sharp as they continue their playoff push.

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Players Mentioned

Patrick Olechno: Valorant; Freshman; itsslother

Giovanni Romero: Valorant, Marvel Rivals; Sophomore; polar_bear

Emil Zhumagaliyev: Valorant, Marvel Rivals; Freshman; E-mail

Players Mentioned

Patrick Olechno
: Freshman; itsslother
: Valorant

Giovanni Romero
: Sophomore; polar_bear
: Valorant, Marvel Rivals

Emil Zhumagaliyev
: Freshman; E-mail
: Valorant, Marvel Rivals