NCAA TENNIS : USD’s Noriega Defeated in Quarterfinals--Again

ATHENS, Ga. — University of San Diego’s Jose Luis Noriega was eliminated from the NCAA individual singles tennis tournament Friday in the quarterfinals by unseeded Jared Palmer of Stanford, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, Friday in Athens, Ga. Earlier in the day, Noriega, seeded seventh, defeated sixth-seeded David DiLucia of Notre Dame, 6-3, 6-4.

Last year, Noriega was also ousted from the singles tournament in the quarterfinals. Noriega, a three-time All-American, finished the season 35-6.

In the doubles tournament, San Diego State’s Jeff Belloli and Dax Peterson used their powerful serves to advance into today’s quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against fifth-seeded Brian Gyetko and Dave Lomicky of Arizona State.

Belloli and Peterson, who were unseeded, became the first All-Americans in SDSU men’s tennis history with the victory. In college tennis, All-American status is attained by reaching the quarterfinals at the NCAA tournament.

Today at noon, Belloli and Peterson will play top-seeded Palmer and Jonathon Stark of Stanford.

Palmer will play Donny Isaak, USC’s No. 3 singles player, in today’s singles semifinal. Isaak lost to Palmer, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4, Monday during USC’s 5-2 semifinal victory over Stanford in the team competition.