Recap

Miami Captures Southern Regional Championship

by Andy Marmer | February 16, 2014

The University of Miami repeated as South Regional Champion defeating the University of Florida in the finals 120*-10, in Rock Hill, S.C..

In addition to the finalists, the University of South Florida (USF) and Tennessee Tech University (TTU)  earned repeat trips to World Cup. Additionally Rollins College, Florida’s Finest Quidditch Club, and Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) each clinched their first Division I World Cup berths. All seven teams are expected to return to South Carolina, in just under two months for World Cup VII across the state in North Myrtle Beach.

Both finalists progressed through pool play undefeated, surviving a pair of scares en route. Florida earned the top seed with two resounding wins, but needed a snitch grab to overcome Tennessee Tech 100*-50. Miami earned the second seed, but not without narrowly escaping an upset bid as they overcame eventual seventh seed College of Charleston 60-50* in their first match of the day.

Florida’s Finest earned the number three seed, having no such scares as all of their wins saw them hold at least a 50-point lead at the time of the pull; however, a pair of relatively narrow victories, after the snitch catch, saw them unable to earn a solid enough point-differential to boost their seeding, falling behind Miami by 40-points in the tiebreaker. Although they went 3-0 in pool play, Florida’s Finest caught just one snitch, and it was this weakness in their seeking game that caught up to them on the second day.

In their first match of bracket play, a quarterfinal contest against sixth-seeded USF, Florida’s Finest’s seeker game failed them once more, as USF caught two snitches en route to a 110^*-90 win. The quarterfinal win officially qualified USF for a World Cup berth; with Miami, Florida and TTU similarly qualifying: Miami with a 160*-40 win over the University of South Carolina, Florida with a 120-60* win over Rollins, and TTU with a 230*-50 win over EFSC.

Miami and Florida advanced to the finals with Miami defeating USF 180*-70 and Florida taking down TTU 130*-110.

Florida’s Finest had no difficulty qualifying through the consolation bracket, dismantling South Carolina 160-30* to qualify. Rollins qualified by virtue of a come-from-behind victory over EFSC 120*-110.

EFSC captured the final World Cup berth defeating South Carolina 180-110 to qualify.

The College of Charleston and Florida Gulf Coast University were each eliminated in play-in games by South Carolina and Rollins respectively.

The University of Southern Mississippi, who pulled off a Cinderella run at this same tournament last year, and Winthrop College, the de facto hosts, were each eliminated prior to bracket play, after winless performances in pool play.

Photo by Jennifer Tran