FULLERTON, Calif. – The quest for a threepeat lives on for another day, as Jessup are back in the national championship game for the third year in a row. With no easy feat in front of them to make it to the finale, Jessup took down No. 1 ranked Hope International, 19-9, inside of Hope's home gym.
 
Jessup's win is a big bounce-back moment for the Warriors, as the last time they saw HIU ended with the Royals winning 13-12.
 
Now Jessup, who is now 7-1 lifetime against HIU, will wait to see who they play next as they will take on the winner of tomorrow's elimination game. Hope International will battle Vanguard at 9 a.m., with the winner advancing to the championship round. Vanguard is looking to make it to the championship for the fourth year in a row.
 
Head coach Alexis Blunk was asked about the Warriors' mindset coming off that loss to HIU two weeks ago. "We have definitely been focusing on our jumps and tumbling, especially seven and eight, because we do have to go out there by ourselves and do it with a certain number of minors. So we focus a lot on that because we know that if we can do that in the third and fourth quarters, that's essentially four points for us."
 
Routines seven and eight proved to be big for the Warriors on Friday, as HIU forfeited both routines, forcing Jessup to compete against the standard. The Warriors answered for the second day in a row, using these routines to pull away.
 
The 19-9 final is the largest margin of victory for either side this season against one another. Prior to Friday's match, the two previous meetings between the Warriors and Royals were both decided by just one point.
 
"We've just been drilling these routines," added Blunk. "We know it's always going to be a good game with Hope. They are great competitors, and so, we've been drilling, drilling, drilling."
 
Tomorrow the Warriors will be in action at noon, as they look to win their third national championship in a row. The 2024 season is just the fourth ever for Jessup STUNT, and Saturday's finale will be Jessup's final time competing at the NAIA level.
 
Jessup University will be joining NCAA Division II at the end of this season.
   
Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).