USD’s Noriega Advances to Rolex Indoor Final

Jose Luis Noriega, a three-time NCAA All-American, advanced to the finals of the Rolex National Indoor Tennis Championships with a three-set victory Saturday over eighth-seeded Yaser Zaatini. Fourth-seeded Noriega, a senior at the University of San Diego who is ranked seventh in the nation in singles, beat the East Tennessee State junior, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Zaatini is ranked in sixth the country in singles.

Noriega today will face Rice senior Steve Campbell in the final. Campbell, unseeded in the tournament and ranked 17th nationally in singles, eliminated unseeded Michael Zimmerman of Harvard, 6-3, 6-4, in the other semifinal of the tournament held at the Crosstown Racquet Club.

Noriega, a native of Lima, Peru, will attempt to improve on a collegiate grand slam record of 29-9.

“I’ve been playing pretty good, but today I didn’t play too well,” he said. “I think that, ultimately, it was my strong desire to win the match that enabled me to win today.”