September 25, 2023
MADISON, S.D. - Dakota State (S.D.) had a slow start in the opening match of the series. leaving Aleksandr Billey left to fend for the Trojans in a 1 vs. 1 matchup against a victorious South Dakota's defender in the pistol round. The Coyotes continued to make an outstanding early lead against the Trojans by winning the next three rounds.
DSU's Ayden Johnson put a stop to the Coyotes' run by securing two eliminations early in the match. allowing the Trojans an upper hand in securing locations to push out the rest of the USD's defending players in the fourth round.
Rounds five through seven saw the Trojans continued to bounce back with Carson Boyle shutting down USD defenders in multiple matchups. Billey played back round one by winning a vital 1 vs.1 matchup as Dakota State trailed 4-3 to the Coyotes.
Rounds eight and nine featured USD shutting off the Trojans' offense for a 6-3 lead.
Round 10 - Johnson opened the round with a prominent double elimination before being taken out of the game, bringing the match to a 2 vs 2 with Calvin Stumpf and Billey. Billey controlled a double elimination to put Trojans up 6-4.
Rounds eleven and twelve respectively set the Trojans up for some round wins as Trevor Schlechter and Boyle secured three eliminations in a 2 vs.3 in favor of South Dakota, continuing a rampage Boyle overtook four players in the next round halting the USD's defense entirely to knot the score at 6-6.
After the half, USD realigned and shook off the Trojans by winning the thirteenth through fifteen rounds. Dakota State took a stand in round sixteen with Billey eliminating three USD's attackers before being taken out of the game himself and left the rest of the Trojan team to secure the round win.
Rounds seventeen through twenty-one, DSU found a defensive angle and shut down the Coyotes by winning the 2 vs. 2 clutch round. Boyle and Billey led in elimination as Dakota State led 12-9.
Rounds twenty-two Boyle clutched a double elimination allowing the Trojans a flawless match point leading the Trojans to a 13-9 first match victory and first series win.
The second match opened with the Trojans taking the first four round victories with two flawless round wins.
Rounds five through seven sported a comeback from the Coyotes. The Trojans made a stand pushing off USD players to win round eight due to a standoff.
Round nine USD took charge and overtook DSU in a 4 vs. 3 matchup, giving the Trojans a 5-4 lead.
Rounds ten through fifteen Dakota State rallied and won all five round by taking a commanding lead over USD 11-4. Johnson helped the Trojans by obtaining double eliminations while Billey won clutch 1 vs. 1 encounters.
Round sixteen, Billey enforced a double elimination, but the Trojans fell apart in a 3 vs.2 matchup in favor of the Coyotes resulting in a win streak break in the match and the Coyotes to gain another round point. DSU rallied and made quick work of round seventeen, shutting down the South Dakota's offense with three players to spare.
In the final round of the series, Billey secured a three-player elimination, leaving the Trojans in a 2 vs.1. Billey took the final elimination of the match and series to bring him up to a 4k to end the game.
Billey served as Most Valuable Player in the first match by collecting 47 eliminations and 19 assists for DSU. Stumpf had 29 eliminations and 23 assists. Boyle registered 39 eliminations and seven assists. Johnson added 39 eliminations and four assists. Schlechter recorded 20 eliminations and 23 assists.
Dakota State is currently ranked number one out of seven CCL teams in the Valorant.
Up Next: DSU's Valorant will play against South Dakota School of Mines on Sunday at 8 p.m.
