FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Pacific Esports team competed before the Sunbirds left for spring break, securing several wins across the board to end the extensive week of competition.

SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE | 2-0, 0-2

The Sunbirds started off the week strong against Oklahoma City University. Airvaulter (Jackson Paramo) started the birds off taking out four stocks and scouting OKU's initial two players. The rest of the set was wrapped up by Forsaur (Forrest Gray) taking the remaining eight stocks from OKU. Forsaur continued to be a one man wrecking machine on Mario in the second set with a clean 12 stock sweep losing only one stock himself and winning the match for the Sunbirds.

Following a swift victory, the Sunbirds went into the next match against University of Anchorage Alaska warmed up and ready to play. The Birds put up a good fight in the first set but were just slightly outmatched by the Seawolves. The Sunbird's anchor, Shadowman (Christian Clark) showed up to finish off UAA's Captain eliasdabest but was eliminated by neopalitan on Mii Brawler giving UAA the first set a close 10-12 stocks. The second set continued to be some great Smash gameplay with both teams going blow for blow. A switch in the Sunbirds lineup and excellent gameplay by Shadowman, Sososa (Sam Ramos) and Airvaulter set the stage for a Captain vs. Captain matchup. In a classic matchup of FPU's Forsaur on Mario and UAA's eliasdabest on DK, UAA was able to pull ahead winning the set by one stock.

The 'Birds enter their final regular season match against University of Alaska Fairbanks with a record of 3-2 sitting 4th in the West Central Conference and confidence in their ability to pull out a win against either of the season's close losses.


MARVEL RIVALS | First earned win as a team! Yay!

The Sunbirds Marvel Rivals team also had two matches due to spring break reschedules. The Bird's first match against Oklahoma City University White was a quick 0-3 sweep for OKU as they continued to lead the conference undefeated.

The second match pitted FPU against the University of Northern Alabama Lions Gold. With both teams going in 1-4 (a team FF out of the league gave the conference a free win), the 'Birds were eager for a win. The Blue and Orange displayed solid teamwork and communication allowing them to take the first set and put the pressure on UNA. The Lions responded quickly taking the second set with ease. The Birds were unshaken and blew through the next two sets securing the match and their first ever earned win as a team! The historic moment had the room elated that all their hard work these two seasons paid off.


ROCKET LEAGUE | Blue 0-4, Orange 4-2

This week the Sunbirds had an exciting rematch against hometown D1 rival, Fresno State. Changes in the Bulldog's roster brought them down several divisions to meet our FPU Blue team on the pitch this season. The match started off with a quick 4-1 win for the 'Birds with senior Blizzzzyy_ (Blake Johnson) scoring three goals with assists from Blue-Tongue106 (Jake Canales). The Bulldogs came in hot winning the next three sets with team captain Ccastill03 playing like the Grand Champ he is, scoring 10 of Fresno State's 15 goals to FPU's 7. The Birds rallied in the fifth set, playing aggressive with nothing to lose. In a close and intense 3-2 game, FPU led by Keith27 (Luke Young) controlled the field having 12 shots on goal to the Bulldog's three. Despite the rally and glimmer of hope, Ccastill03 went off for Fresno State and took the sixth set 0-7. FPU Blue will end their season next week in their match against USC.

FPU Orange entered the match clinging to the hope of making playoffs. Facing off against Simon Fraser University's SFU Equinox team, the Sunbirds had a better showing than the earlier Fresno State match. FPU was quick to win the first three sets, respectively putting the pressure on the Red Leaves (4-3, 4-2, and 2-1). SFU was not about to be swept and came out strong in the next two sets going 1-4 and 0-1 taking the match to set six. FPU claimed a decisive 6-1 victory securing the match four sets to two. FPU's Smokie (Estevan Gonzalez) and Shiginoku (Rene Meza) dominated the series being the top two scorers across both teams with Smokie taking MVP going eight goals, two assists, four saves, and 23 shots on goal this match. The huge win puts FPU in fourth place in the West A conference and a spot in playoffs if they can pull off another win against University of Montana's Griz Maroon.


OVERWATCH 2 | 3-0

The Sunbird's Overwatch team had a clean 3-0 sweep this week against CSU San Bernadino Yotes Black. The starting lineup of Downtownbrown (Kyler Brown), Lil Neptune (Jacob Sanchez), Blizzzzyy (Blake Johnson), Jason3239 (Jose Alvarez), and Clif (Matthew Clifton) continued the streak with great communication and positioning winning the first Control set on Lijiang Tower. Swapping in Mr. Sentinel (Chris Taylor) on DPS for set two kept the momentum going as the Yotes chose to play Flashpoint on Aatlis, a map the Birds had not yet seen in play yet. Isolating corridors and the mobile nature of the Flashpoint game mode played in FPU's favor as the Birds captured three uncontested points.

The Yotes put up a good fight in round three playing Hybrid on Midtown and were able to get the payload to the second check point. After a long skirmish FPU was able to pull ahead thanks in part to Skorp Kin (Jah Eckert) and Ryloren (Riley Kirk) keeping the team alive healing 13K+ damage each. With this win the Sunbirds secure a spot in the playoffs and look forward to climbing higher in the ranks with next week's matches.

Follow along with the Fresno Pacific Esports Team on socials: @sunbirdsesports and watch live on Twitch at twitch.tv/esportsfpu

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