USD Men's Tennis 1993

1992 REVIEW

Injuries to two key players made 1992 a year of 'What ifs.' As it was, Iha Toreros posted a record of 13-8, earned a mid-season national ranking, won Iha 21st San Diego lntercollegiatas, claimed the

team title at Iha BNP Collegiate Classic and fin– ished second al Iha West Coast Conference Cham– pionships. A sore elbow kept sophomore J.J. Shobar on the sideline throughout the year, and senior All– American Jose Luis Noriega missed the last third of the season because of tendinitis in his shoulder. Al Iha September IT A National Clay Courts, Noriega won 4 rounds before losing in the finals lo Mississippi's Mohamed Ridaoui At the October West Coast Men's Tennis Championships, held al the Warner Canter in Thou–

After upsetting #12 Cafifornfa

sand Oaks, Fradrik Axsater, Akida Mashaka and Kevin Bradley all lost fst round matches. At Iha Volvo Championships, held at U. Texas, Austin, Mashaka and Martinez lost in the 2nd round of praqua\ies, Hofmann lost in the 3rd; Bradley lost in the 2nd rd. of qualifying and Axsater in the 3rd. In Iha main draw, Noriega lost in Iha first round to Courcal of Miss. St. Al the Rice/America Wast Classic, Bradley upset TCU's Ruette before losing in the quarters to Peppardine's Lothringer. Al the November Rolex SoCa\ Regionals, Martinez defeated Pepperdine's Nathan before losing in the 3rd round to Santa Barbara's Markovitz. Al the December San Diego All-College Tournament Axsatar defeated Martinez for the singles title. Noriega and Martinez lost in the doubles final to SDsu·s Numbers and Belloli. The Spring season opened with a win over UC Riverside and then a successful trip lo NorCal, where the Toreros pushed Stanford to the limit, losing in the last doubles match. Noriega beat O'Brien, Axsater defeated Flanagan and Martinez beat Devens. The next day, against then #12 Cal, USD won four of six sirgles (Noriega, Bradley, Martinez and Hofmann won), before the #3 team o\ Axsaler and Huarte clinched the win. With a 6-1 record, along with a 5-1 on-the-road win over Arizona, USD broke into the rankings al #21 . Al Iha Rolex National Indoors, Noriega won Iha singles title by defeating Zurcher, Schattner, Flanagan, Zaalini and Campbell. Attar each match ha iced what was incorrectly diagnosed as a strained deltoid muscle. Al the San Diego lntercollegialas Noriega defeated Axsater for the #t -2 title. Without losing a set, Martinez won the #3-4 division, and in Iha 5-6 division; Seward upset SDSU's Hanson to reach the semis. In doubles Axsater and Huarte won the #3 title. USD won the team title. For Iha 5th consecutive time, the Toreros take the title at the BNP Collegiate Classic, beating Nebraska, Vala and Pacific. In Montgomery, Alabama, al the Blue-Gray Classic, with Noriega sidelined with tendinitis of the rotator cuff, the Toreros lost three at the hands of Drake, UCSB and Minnesota. Atter losses lo USC and Irvine, Iha Noriega-lass Toreros found a way to win over Santa Barbara and San Diego State. Against SDSU Axsater beat McDonough, Bradley defeated Numbers, Martinez beat Sass and Hofmann won over Safdie. At Iha WCCs Martinez and Bradley made the quarters, Huarte upset St. Mary's Noel, Seward reached the rd of 16, and the doubles team of Bradley-Hofmann made the semis. For the second year in a row USD finished second lo Pepperdine. Attar two mcnths of intense physical therapy, Noriega put in his best showing al the NCAAs. After having been stopped at Iha quartertinals in his two previous attempts, Noreiga made ii to the semis

where he lost lo eventual winner Alex O'Brien of Stanford. The Toreros final overall dual match record was 13-8. Final rankings included Noriega al #3 and Axsater at #67.

Al Iha year-end awards banquet, Noriega walked away with most of Iha honors: he led the team in overall wA % with a 21-1 record in singles and a 5-2 mark in doubles; he was elected Team Captain and voted Most Inspirational. Mark Huarte was voted Best Sportsmanship and Kevin Bradley received Iha Most Improved Award.

Blue-Gray National Classic, Montgomery, Alabama

8