The Georgetown men’s tennis team began its 2011 spring season with two losses last Friday in Richmond, Va., at the VCU 4+1 Invitational, falling first to host VCU (6-0, 1-0 CAA), then to Campbell (2-0).

Although the Hoyas lost, 5-0, in both matches, Head Coach Gordie Ernst recognized differences in the problems the two teams presented for Georgetown.

“VCU had just too much talent. We were outgunned. We just weren’t ready yet,” Ernst said. “Against Campbell we had a lot of the matches go down to the wire.”

Against VCU, all four Georgetown singles players lost in two sets. Juniors Michael Clarke and Andrew Bruhn put up a fight and almost took the first set of their match but also fell in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

Georgetown performed better against Campbell later in the day. Although they lost again, 5-0, Bruhn forced a third set in his match at the No. 2 singles spot before eventually losing, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. After coming back from a 6-4 first set loss to take the second set, 4-6, doubles partners sophomore Charlie Caris and freshman Alex Friedlich fell, 7-6, in a tight third set.

Ernst believes his players need to be more confident on the court.

“I was more pleased with the [team’s] belief that they could beat Campbell,” Ernst said. “With VCU they didn’t expect to win, which is not a good thing. I’d like to see them believe they can win every match.”

Despite the losses, Ernst saw the VCU tournament as a chance to learn and improve.

“We played two very good teams loaded with foreign players with a lot more experience [than us], and that’s a good thing,” Ernst said. “We need to get better and fitter.”

The Hoyas return to the courts this weekend to take on Lehigh (1-1) and Stetson (1-0) on Saturday at Lehigh University. The team then travels to Philadelphia on Sunday to play Temple (2-2).

Though his team has a weaker record than the three teams it will face this weekend, Ernst is still optimistic about the Hoyas’ chances.

“With teams like Stetson and Temple, half of the team will be foreign [players] that are top-heavy [and] highly talented. But lower in the lineup we may be able to compete,” Ernst said. “Lehigh plays in the Patriot League and they should be a good match. With us in the Big East, they will come in thinking they have something to prove to us.”

Ernst knows his team has to improve in order to compete against talented opponents.

“How we play in practice needs to translate to matches,” Ernst said. “In practice, we are loose, aggressive and fearless, but in matches we get tentative, show fear and play defensively.”

Unfortunately, Georgetown has more to worry about at the moment than its mental readiness. Illness has compounded the Hoyas’ woes this week and will play a role in their three matches this weekend.

“It’s been a hard week,” Ernst said. “The guys have been practicing hard, but the flu has gotten to some of them and they are trying to get through it.”

With the setback, Ernst will have to rely on his team’s depth on the road.

“Luckily we have a lot of parity so some guys will get chances to compete,” Ernst said. “Whoever is ready and whoever is healthy will play, and we hope we get wins.”