After getting off to a strong start, the Georgetown men’s tennis team suffered their first loss of the season to cross-town rival George Washington last Friday at home on the McDonough Courts. Despite wins from two of their doubles teams, the Hoyas were unable to hold off the
veteran Colonials, dropping their only dual match of the fall 5-2. This is the third year in a row the Hoyas have lost to the Colonials.
In windy conditions, strong performances were put in by junior Erik Bildman in singles competition, and by freshmen Scott Faust and Kevin Killeavy in doubles play.
“Erik played really well,” head coach Rich Bausch said of Bildman’s victory over freshman Gordon Daniels of GW. Bildman defeated Daniels with straight set wins, 6-4, 6-4.
Bausch said he was also very pleased with Faust and Killeavy, who were competing in their first collegiate dual match. Faust and Killeavy played both singles and doubles in the match.
“They were very competitive,” said Bausch of their performances in their singles matches, despite losses.
Junior Ryan Peisel and sophomore Eric Conrad, the number three doubles team for Georgetown, were also able to pick up a victory, defeating senior Brett Warner and junior Daniel Raisbeck of GW in a close match 9-7.
Looking at the bigger picture, Bausch said he is happy with the development of the team so far this season.
“The guys are really ahead in team chemistry,” he said. “They are all very supportive of one another.”
This weekend the Hoyas will be splitting up, with No. 1 singles player senior Dennis Cravedi and Bildman traveling to New York for the ITA Regional Championships at Cornell University. The ITA tournament is the top tournament on the East Coast each year.
“They just need to find a way to win matches,” said Bausch of Cravedi and Bildman, who will be facing tough competition in both singles and doubles play this weekend. “If they can pull out wins, they can be ranked in the East,” Bausch said, which is a great accomplishment for any player.
The remainder of the team will be heading to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. to compete in the Old Point National Bank Championships.
“It is a really good tournament, with good players and good teams. This will be a very exciting weekend with a chance to pick up significant wins,” Bausch said.
Both tournaments begin Friday and run through the weekend.