USAFA, Colo. – For the second time in three seasons, the San José State Spartans are the West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Tournament Champions, defeating No. 5 California Baptist, 15-9, Sunday afternoon at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Cadet Natatorium.
With the win, San Jose State has secured the West Coast Conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament.
The Spartans are a powerful blend of offense and defense, earning a No. 9 national ranking and a share of the conference regular season title. SJSU was the second seed in the West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Tournament, downing host Air Force in the opening round and outlasting No. 3 Pepperdine in an overtime thriller in Saturday’s semifinal round.
San Jose State and California Baptist were locked in a battle throughout the first half as each team found the back of the cage four times through the opening minutes of the second period. The Spartans scored five of the final seven goals of the period to take a 9-6 lead into the half.
Lancers’ Michael Abshier led CBU with two goals in the first half, but the offensive and defensive force of San José State was just too much in the 7,258 altitude at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Brendon Gyapjas, the West Coast Conference Player of the Year, led the way for San José State in the tournament as well. The junior goalkeeper earned Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. In the tournament championship game, Gypajas was an unstoppable force from the cage, collecting 16 saves and allowing CBU just three goals in the second half. Gyapjas limited the Lancers to just a .231 shot percentage and a game-leading three steals. The Spartans as a team collected six steals.
West Coast Conference All-Tournament Team member Mateja Bosic put on a scoring parade in the Tournament title match. The senior started the scoring for the Spartans in the first two minutes of the contest and continued to be an offensive force throughout the game. Bosic picked up five goals in the match on just six shots. Four of his five goals came in the second half with his fifth coming at the 3:27 minute mark of the fourth period to put the Spartans up seven, their largest lead of the match.
Bosic garnered a West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Tournament record 12 total goals over the three games, breaking his record of eight set in 2023. Bosic also eclipsed the tournament record for points with 16 in the tournament.
Samu Biros was stellar for San José State throughout the tournament, earning all-tournament team honors. Biros finished with four goals in the championship game and rattled the back of the cage 10 times during the tournament.
Whitley Beamon and Wyatt Bugbee each netted two scores for CBU to lead the Lancers in the contest.
The Spartans will learn their NCAA Tournament seed and opening-round opponent during the NCAA selection show on Monday, Nov. 24 at 9:00 a.m. PT on NCAA.com. The NCAA Tournament will be held on the campus of Stanford University Dec. 5-7. This will be San José State’s sixth NCAA Tournament appearance all-time, and first since 2023.
West Coast Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Brendon Gyapjas, San José State
West Coast Conference All-Tournament Team
Samu Biros, San José State
Mateja Bosic, San José State
Sandor Gal, Pepperdine
Apostolos Georgaras, Pacific
Brendon Gyapjas, San José State
Andrea Nuzzo, California Baptist
Alex Righetti, California Baptist