SAN BRUNO, Calif – Some of the nation’s best men’s water polo teams will be battling it out for the conference crown this weekend at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado. The Cadet Natatorium starting Friday, Nov. 21^st through Sunday, Nov. 23^rd will see seven top-25 ranking RPI schools in the pool for the West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Tournament. All matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and all information on tickets, parking and how to access the base can be found on the Tournament Central Site. 
 
The first round of the tournament will begin Friday, Nov. 21^st at 12:00 p.m. MT with two seed San José State going against seven seed Air Force. Game two of the day will follow with three seed Pepperdine going against the six seeded Santa Clara at 2:00 p.m. MT. The final match of the day will see fourth seeded LMU take on five seed California Baptist. 
 
2025 WEST COAST CONFERENCE MEN’S WATER POLO TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
 
Friday, Nov. 21
GAME 1 – 12:00 p.m. – No. 2 San José State vs. No. 7 Air Force
GAME 2 – 2:00 p.m. – No. 3 Pepperdine vs. No. 6 Santa Clara
GAME 3 – 4:00 p.m. – No. 4 LMU vs. No. 5 California Baptist
 
Saturday, Nov. 22
GAME 4 – 1:00 p.m. – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner
GAME 5 – 3:00 p.m. – No. 1 Pacific vs. Game 3 Winner
 
Sunday, Nov. 23
GAME 6 – 1:00 p.m. – Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner
*All times in MT
 
MEN’S WATER POLO RANKINGS AND PREVIEW
 
With the 14-11 win over California Baptist on Nov. 2, Pacific earned the No. 1 seed of the West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Tournament for the second-straight season while earning a share of this year’s regular season crown. The Tigers rank No. 6 in the nation and look to cement a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. Leading the way for Pacific is 2025 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Freshman of the Year, Apostolos Georgaras who collected a team-leading 70 goals this season, which also ranks fourth in total goals in the Conference this season. He also leads the Tigers in steals with 34 which is third most in the West Coast Conference. Pacific’s James Graham was also named West Coast Conference Coach of the Year Tuesday afternoon. The Tigers (15-7) earned five ranked wins so far this season. 
 
The No. 2 seed and CWPA 10^th-ranked San José State will be fighting for the opportunity to head to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023. The co-West Coast Conference regular season champions are led by 2025 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Player of the Year Brendon Gyapjas. The Spartans’ junior goalkeeper put together a superb season for San José State, leading the Conference this season with a .531 save percentage, 10.90 goals-against average, and 11.2 saves-per-game. West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo All-Conference Second Team honoree Samu Biros will also be a key piece of the Spartans’ attack, as he is top five in the Conference in multiple categories, including steals-per-game (2.2), field blocks (8), points (26) and goals (17). 11-7 San José State picked up eight ranked wins this season. 
 
Third-seeded and ninth nationally ranked Pepperdine is looking to win its first West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Tournament and head back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Offensively, the Waves are led by West Coast Conference All-Conference Second Team honoree Erik Ionescu who is eighth in the conference in points (87) and 10^th in goals-per-game. On the defensive side, Pepperdine’s other second team member, Max Smirnov, is having a phenomenal season as the Waves’ goalkeeper, ranking second in the Conference in total saves (215) and save percentage (.464). The 16-10 Waves collected 10 ranked wins this season. 
 
Fourth-seeded and No. 12 CWPA-ranked LMU is looking to make some noise in the tournament this weekend to try and make it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. Graduate student Alika Naone was announced by the Conference on Tuesday as the 2025 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Newcomer of the Year after contributing 49 goals and 26 assists for 75 points this season. The Lions also garnered two student-athletes onto the All-Conference First Team, with Tommaso Baldineti and Abel Romero Corbalan receiving the honors. LMU (13-11) has collected eight ranked wins so far this season. 
 
California Baptist, the fifth seed in the Tournament and ranked No. 16 in the nation, is looking to win the West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Tournament for the second-straight year after defeating San José State 13-8 in the championship game last season. Leading the way for the Lancers is 2025 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo All-Conference First Team recipient Andrea Nuzzo. Nuzzo is second in the Conference in total goals this season with 86, along with being seventh in total assists (42) to earn a top-three ranking in points with 128. With a 22-10 record, the Lancers earned seven ranked wins this season. 
 
Santa Clara comes into the 2025 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Tournament as the six seed. The No. 17 ranked Broncos are led by All-Conference First Team member Riccardo De Simon. De Simon was a problem for opponents all over the pool, leading the Conference in sprint wins (49), sprint win percentage (.925) and steals (67), while also ranking fifth in goals with 66. The Broncos have never been to the NCAA Tournament. 
 
The seventh seed for the weekend tournament will the Air force. While without a conference win this season, they are led by the top goal scorer in the entire conference in All-Conference First Team honoree Tom Leggett. Leggett collected 144 goals this season, breaking his individual record of 143 goals last season. With 192 points, he also breaks the 183 points record he said last season. Air Force’s Jack Richards also leads the conference in total assists with 59. The Falcons have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2012. 
 
2025 KAP7 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Players of the Week 
September 2: Tom Leggett, Air Force
September 9: Tom Leggett, Air Force
September 16: Tommaso Baldineti, LMU
September 23: Riccardo De Simon, Santa Clara
September 30: Riccardo De Simon, Santa Clara
October 7: Reese Jenican, Santa Clara
October 14: Andrea Nuzzo, California Baptist
October 21: Kiss Gergely, Pacific
October 28: Apostolos Georgaras, Pacific
November 3: Petar Popovic, Pacific 
November 11: Abel Romero Corbalan, LMU
November 18: Erik Ionescu, Pepperdine

2025 KAP7 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Newcomers of the Week 
September 2: Borisz Kasa-Gal, Pacific
September 9: Apostolos Georgaras, Pacific
September 16: Roberto Barrera Sanchez, LMU
September 23: Brian Barnuevo, Pepperdine
September 30: Imme van der Schaaf, Santa Clara
October 7: Alika Naone, LMU
October 14: Kiss Gergely, Pacific
October 21: Apostolos Georgaras, Pacific
October 28: Apostolos Georgaras, Pacific
November 3: Sam Keightley, San José State
November 11: Sam Keightley, San José State
November 18: Csanád Bella, Pepperdine