2025 Men's Water Polo

Men's Water Polo Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Hosts WWPA Men's Championship with NCAA Tourney Berth on the Line

2025 WWPA MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
DATES: Friday, November 21 to Sunday, November 23, 2025
POOL/LOCATION: SPIRE Aquatics Center • Geneva, Ohio
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | TICKETS
 
2025 WWPA Men's Championship Schedule
Friday, November 21
Game 1 (Exhibition), 10 a.m.: UC Merced (5-18) vs. 1E GANNON (13-9)
Game 2 (Quarterfinals), 12 p.m.: 3W Fresno Pacific (4-18) vs 2E McKendree (11-11)
Game 3 (Quarterfinals), 2 p.m.: 3E Salem (15-14) vs 2W Biola (8-20)
Game 4 (Exhibition), 4 p.m.: UC Merced vs 1W Concordia (19-12)
 
Saturday, November 22
Game 5  (Exhibition), 10 a.m.: UC Merced vs Game 2 Loser
Game 6 (Semifinals), 12 p.m.: Game 3 Winner vs 1E GANNON
Game 7 (Semifinals), 2 p.m.: Game 2 Winner vs 1W Concordia
Game 8 (Exhibition), 4 p.m.: UC Merced vs Game 3 Loser
 
Sunday, November 23
Game 9 (5th Place), 9 a.m.: Game 2 Loser vs Game 3 Loser
Game 10 (3rd Place), 11 a.m.: Game 6 Loser vs Game 7 Loser
Game 11 (Championship), 1 p.m.: Game 6 Winner vs Game 7 Winner
 
WWPA All-Tournament Team
TBA following tournament.
 
ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's water polo team will make its third appearance in the WWPA Men's Championship this weekend. In fact, the Golden Knights will serve as the host for the three-day event that runs from Friday, November 21 to Sunday, November 23. They will do so at the SPIRE Institute in nearby Geneva, Ohio.
 
Head coach Zarko Sadikovic's team enters as the number one seed from the East Region and will receive a first round bye on Friday. However, the day will still feature four matches. The action gets underway at 10 a.m. with Gannon facing UC Merced in an exhibition match. Concordia, the top seed in the West Region, will face UC Merced in an exhibition match to end the day at 4:00 p.m.
 
In between are two quarterfinal matches. At 2 p.m. No. 2E McKendree squares off against No. 3W Fresno Pacific, with winner facing Concordia on Saturday at 2:00 p.m in one semifinal match. Saturday's other semifinal pits Gannon against the winner of Friday's third game between No. 2W Biola and No.3E Salem at 12 noon. That quarterfinal match is at 2:00 p.m. on Friday.
 
The 2025 WWPA Championship match is set for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Gannon placed fourth in last year's WWPA Championship and was fifth in its first year in the conference in 2023.
 
Gannon in the WWPA Championship
2023 (5th Place)
First Round – Lost to Concordia – 15-12
Consolation Round – Win over Fresno Pacific – 16-14
Fifth Place Match – Win over Mercyhurst – 22-17
2024 (4th Place)
First Round – Win over Fresno Pacific – 17-15
Semifinals – Loss to Concordia – 14-9
Third Place Match – Loss to Biola – 14-12
 
Five Accorded All-WWPA Honors
The WWPA announced its 2025 postseason honors on Wednesday with Gannon well-represented. Alexandros Kotskar (Voula, Greece/Athinaiki Agogh) led Gannon's contingent as the senior was named to the first team. Victor Volant (Fuveau, France/) and Bator Mohacsi (Budapest, Hungary/) earned second team accolades with Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece/) and  Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia/) receiving honorable mention recognition. Volant was also named to the All-Defensive Team.
 
Kotskar is now a three-time All-WWPA honoree, earning first team honors in 2023 and 2025 along with honorable mention a year ago. He was an ACWPC Division II First-Team All-American in 2023.
 
Volant was not only a second team All-WWPA selection but was also named to the All-Defensive Team. He was joined on the second unit by goalie Bator Mahocsi. Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece/) and  Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia/) received honorable mention recognition. Liantziris was a second team honoree a year ago while Markovic was an honorable mention choice.
 
Golden Knights to Watch
Alexandros Kotskar (Voula, Greece/Athinaiki Agogh), Sr., Att.: A native of Voula, Greece Kotskar has enjoyed a record-breaking career as a Golden Knight. Earlier this year he broke GU records for career goals and career points. His totals now stand at 319 goals and 419 points. He currently leads the Golden Knights with 87 goals and 113 points, contributing 26 assists.  The 87 goals rank second all-time, trailing the 99 goals he scored in 2023. The 113 points are also second. He scored a school record 129 in 2023. Kotskar is now a three-time All-WWPA honoree, earning first team honors in 2023 and 2025 along with honorable mention a year ago. He was an ACWPC Division II First-Team All-American in 2023.
 
Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece/), So., Dr.: A native of Athens, Greece, Liantziris is now a two-time All-WWPA honoree. A year ago the sophomore was named to the second team and was a member of the All-Defensive and All-Freshman Teams. He went on to earn first team ACWPC All-American accolades.  He is Gannon's second-leading scorer with 58 goals and 46 assists for 104 points. He ranks tied for fourth in season points and fifth in season assists.
 
Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia/), Jr., C: Markovic hails from Belgrade, Serbia. The junior is now a two-time All-WWPA selection, earning honorable mention honors this year and second team a year ago. He has contributed 57 goals and 15 assists for 72 points along with a team-high 41 defensive exclusions.
 
Bator Mohacsi (Budapest, Hungary/), So., GK: Mohacsi took over as the starter in goal this year and moved up from the WWPA All-Freshman team in 2024 to a spot on the second team this year. A native of Budapest, Hungary he has started 21 games and has a 10-9 record with a 15.04 GAA. He has played 549 minutes and has a .464 save percentage.
 
Victor Volant (Fuveau, France/), Soph., Util.: Volant was not only a second team All-WWPA selection but was also named to the All-Defensive Team. The sophomore from Fuveau, France stands third on the team in scoring with 90 points on 56 goals and 34 assists. He also leads the team with 47 steals and 32 sprint-offs.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Alexandros Kotskar

#10 Alexandros Kotskar

A
6' 0"
Senior
Nikiforos Liantziris

#9 Nikiforos Liantziris

D
5' 11"
Sophomore
Petar Markovic

#6 Petar Markovic

C
6' 3"
Junior
Bator Mohacsi

#1 Bator Mohacsi

GK
6' 5"
Sophomore
Victor Volant

#12 Victor Volant

U
6' 5"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Alexandros Kotskar

#10 Alexandros Kotskar

6' 0"
Senior
A
Nikiforos Liantziris

#9 Nikiforos Liantziris

5' 11"
Sophomore
D
Petar Markovic

#6 Petar Markovic

6' 3"
Junior
C
Bator Mohacsi

#1 Bator Mohacsi

6' 5"
Sophomore
GK
Victor Volant

#12 Victor Volant

6' 5"
Sophomore
U