Noriega Advances to NCAA Semifinals

University of San Diego senior Jose Luis Noriega, a four-time tennis All-American trying to win his first NCAA Division I men’s singles title, advanced to the semifinals with two victories Friday at Athens, Ga. He is the highest seeded player left in the tournament.

Noriega, who is seeded second in the tournament and ranked second in the nation, defeated Michigan’s David Kass, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, in the quarterfinals after beating Louisiana State’s Mario Pacheco, 6-4, 6-1, in the round of 16.

No. 1 seed David DiLucia was upset in the third round Friday, 6-2, 6-2, by Chris Woodruff of Tennessee.

Woodruff was later eliminated in the quarterfinals by unseeded Howard Joffe of Pepperdine, 6-3, 6-2.

In doubles, San Diego State’s Jeff Belloli and Chris Numbers advanced to the round of 16 with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Mike Knowles and Ivan Trevino of Mississippi.

With the victory, Numbers, a sophomore who attended Valhalla High, and Belloli, a senior, earned All-American status.