The Georgetown men’s tennis team fell to 8-6 on the season, dropping a 6-1 decision to crosstown rival George Washington (9-6, 1-1 Atlantic 10) at the Mount Vernon Tennis Center Friday.

The win is the Colonials’ sixth in a row, and Georgetown Head Coach Gordie Ernst believes that this is the best team George Washington has had in years. The Colonials’ roster includes players from Turkey, Portugal, Ecuador, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

“They are a really good, solid team,” Ernst said. “They have six foreign players that are all really talented, competitive and experienced.”

But despite the Colonials’ diversity and talent, the Hoyas had their chances to win Friday’s match.

“[Junior] Charlie Caris was close in second singles, and [senior] Andrew Bruhn had his chances at No. 1 singles,” Ernst said. “But we got outplayed.”

Caris fell at No. 2 singles to George Washington senior Ugur Atalay, 6-2, 7-5. Atalay, a senior from Istanbul, Turkey, was recently named the Atlantic 10 men’s tennis performer of the week. At first singles, Bruhn lost, 6-2, 6-4, to George Washington freshman Francisco Dias. A Lisbon, Portugal native, Dias was ranked No. 80 in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll.

The Hoyas’ lone point came from sophomore Casey Distaso’s 4-6, 7-6, 1-0 victory against sophomore Viktor Svensson at sixth singles. Distaso also won at No. 3 doubles, 8-7, with partner Caris. However, with Bruhn and senior partner Brian Ward falling, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles and sophomore Andrew Dottino and freshman partner Alex Tropiano losing, 8-2, at No. 2, the victory was not enough to earn Georgetown the doubles point.

Distaso’s win came as no surprise, as his competitiveness and work ethic is not lost on Ernst.

“Casey [Distaso] is the ultimate competitor,” Ernst said. “Everyday he leaves his premed studies at the fence before he walks on the court. That’s why he succeeds and that’s why his matches are always so close. He is never blown out.”

Despite the loss, Ernst is still confident in his squad.

“I do believe we can beat [George Washington] on any given day,” Ernst said. “But we would need everyone to come out and play their best.”

Georgetown had a match scheduled for Saturday against Duquesne that has been postponed indefinitely due to travel and schedule conflicts.

“We would love to have another match, but everyone is so busy that we just cannot do it,” Ernst said. “But now we have time to get completely rested.”

And the Hoyas need this much-deserved rest. After travelling for much of the season, the Blue and Gray now begin their final stretch with eight straight home matches.

Georgetown will next take on the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The Retrievers come into the match after defeating Texas-Pan American, 4-3, in a five-hour match Friday. The Hoyas look to improve their record to 9-6 against UMBC tomorrow at 2 p.m.