TOPEKA, Kan. - After mustering a sixth-place finish through qualifying play at the Jayhawk Collegiate Classic, Ottawa hit its stride during bracket play to pick up its first tournament win of the 2026-27 season on Sunday. The Braves knocked off KCAC foe Avila University 3-2 in the championship match to claim the trophy.

"It's nice to see the chemistry that these guys have shown early in the season," said head coach Geoff Poston. "We have a nice mix of some veteran leadership and a couple freshman that are contributing in big moments. We have a month to tune some things up before Columbia. We need to stay hungry." 

The Braves got off to a slow start on Saturday, with a first-round 947 leaving OU in 10th and looking up at the field. After climbing steadily, Ottawa ranked seventh after the five rounds of individual play before a strong opening set from Avila allowed the Eagles to leapfrog both Ottawa and sixth-ranked Central Missouri.

"We are just two tournaments into the season and are seeing improvements being made everywhere," said assistant coach Michael Maida. "Finishing second in the first tournament of the year and walking away with the win this weekend is sweet, but winning is the product of hard work. Therefore the hard work cannot stop, we must continue to dial in on the areas we are struggling until those areas become second nature."

Ottawa threw a lights-out 279 in the fifth Baker set to jump briefly into fifth place, but Avila answered with a pair of 260-plus lines - 267 in the 10th and 266 in the 12th - to reclaim the fifth spot.

Unfortunately, Ottawa wasn't positioned well enough to capitalize on a dismal 137 in the 14th by Drury University, finishing just 34 pins behind the Panthers through qualifying play and holding a comfortable 120-pin lead over seventh-place Hastings.

"With that said I'm very proud of these guys across the board, it's a very fun group to be a part of," added Maida. "I hope we all enjoyed the win, but it's time to get back to work. I'm looking forward to seeing more success and improvements throughout the season."

Ottawa made quick work of no. 3 seed Baker in the quarterfinals and swept past Hastings 3-0 to set up a championship match against Avila, who had also picked up an upset over Wichita State University. The match went down to the fifth set, with Ottawa picking up its second upset of the afternoon in a 3-2 win.

The Braves have a month off before heading to Columbia, Mo., for the Cougar Clash on Dec. 5-6.