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Men's Water Polo 8/27/2025 3:52:00 PM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Picked Fourth in WWPA Men's Water Polo Preseason Poll

VISTA, Calif. – The Western Water Polo Association released its 2025 men's water polo coaches preseason poll today. Gannon was voted fourth by the conference's coaches.

Salem, the 2024 WWPA champion, is the preseason favorite, edging Concordia out for first place in the preseason poll. Salem received four first-place votes with Concordia picking up the other three.

Biola, the 2023 WWPA champion, was picked to finish third, with Gannon fourth. The Golden Knights moved up from sixth place in the 2024 poll. McKendree was picked to finish fifth and Fresno Pacific rounded out the poll in the sixth spot.

Third-year head coach Zarko Sadikovic led his alma mater to a 16-7 record a year ago, placing fourth in the WWPA Championships. The 16 wins were the most since the 2019 squad finished with an 18-4 record.

Gannon returns plenty of firepower with three All-WWPA performers back. All three scored over 45 goals, with Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece/) leading the way with 49 goals and 41 assists for a team-high 90 points. The sophomore from Greece earned second team All-WWPA and was named to the All-Defensive Team and All-Freshman Team. He was later selected a first team ACWPC All-American.

Fellow second team All-WWPA honoree Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia/) led the Golden Knights with 63 goals, adding 14 assists for 77 points. Now a senior, Alexandros Kotskar (Voula, Greece/Athinaiki Agogh) added 52 goals and 17 assists for 69 points. A 2023 ACWPC Division II First Team All-American and honorable mention All-WWPA selection a year ago, Kotskar scored a school-record 99 goals as a sophomore and has 221 career goals.

Bator Mohacsi (Budapest, Hungary/), an All-Freshman Team honoree last year, is one of three players looking to replace Alvaro Marco (Madrid, Spain/IES Ortega y Gasset) in goal. A four-year starter, Marco was an honorable mention All-WWPA choice in 2024.

Gannon opens the 2025 season this weekend in the Bruno Classic. The Golden Knights face host Brown and Iona on Saturday, August 30 before facing Harvard and MIT on Sunday, August 31.

2025 WWPA Men's Water Polo Preseason Poll
1. Salem -- 28 (4)
2. Concordia -- 27 (3)
3. Biola -- 20
4. GANNON -- 13
5. McKendree -- 9
6. Fresno Pacific – 8
* UC Merced will play a WWPA conference regular season schedule, but is ineligible for WWPA/NCAA postseason official competition due to NCAA Division II transition.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Alvaro Marco: GK; 5' 10"; Senior

#10 Alexandros Kotskar: A; 6' 0"; Senior

#9 Nikiforos Liantziris: D; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#6 Petar Markovic: C; 6' 3"; Junior

#1 Bator Mohacsi: GK; 6' 5"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#1 Alvaro Marco
: 5' 10"; Senior
: GK

#10 Alexandros Kotskar
: 6' 0"; Senior
: A

#9 Nikiforos Liantziris
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: D

#6 Petar Markovic
: 6' 3"; Junior
: C

#1 Bator Mohacsi
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: GK