April 28, 2005
It was the first time the Georgetown men's tennis team had been in the BIG EAST Championship since 2000. The burden of closing the 2004-05 season on a high note would land on the shoulders of a senior. It was a match that no one thought would need to be finished as the Hoyas held a 3-0 lead and advantages in all three of the other singles matches. Georgetown's players and coaches were all waiting for just one of those three matches to end and give the team the win...but that never materialized as match points were lost, leads dwindled and in the end GU lost all three matches. The score was even 3-3 and all eyes shifted to court #1 where senior Erik Bildman battled and forged a memory that will never be forgotten, defeating Villanova University's #1 singles player 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 and giving Georgetown a 4-3 victory.
GUHoyas.com caught up with head coach Richard Bausch, #1 singles player Erik Bildman and rookie Andrew Clayton to get a hands on version of the event. All three describe the 2005 BIG EAST Championship in Tampa, Florida and the final match of Bildman's Georgetown career.
The experience
BILDMAN: It was an amazing experience. The weather was unbelievable, mid-80s and sunny every day, ideal tennis playing weather. The whole atmosphere was perfect, I could not have asked for anything better to finish off my four years at Georgetown.
The finality
BAUSCH: You know you are going into your last match, not only of your season but also in the instance of Erik Bildman of his career. How is that going to affect everyone's disposition and focus? And starting right out in doubles against Villanova we played well on all three courts. We had as convincing a doubles performance as we have had this year.
The scene
BAUSCH: Mentally and emotionally we were in the right place for a good performance. In singles we had solid performances from Kevin Killeavy and Etienne Paris who did quick work. Then Eric Conrad had two match points in the second set. We had all the momentum up 3-0. Just goes to show you that if you can hang around there long enough you can change the whole momentum of the match by playing tough on just a couple of points. I do not think that Eric Conrad started playing worse or had his game drop off. The Villanova player just started making his shots. At that point when Conrad had two match points we were even at #2 singles and I believe had a 6-0, 3-0 lead at #6. Then all of a sudden all the air came out of our sails and the momentum completely swung Villanova's way. No one expected at that point that it was going to go on Bildman's shoulders we were not even sure his match would finish. All of a sudden his match was the most important one of the day.
BILDMAN: Honestly I thought either Eric Conrad or Scott Faust would close out their match, that would have stopped my match; I think my opponent felt the same way. At the same time I knew if they both lost it would come down to my match. So I was trying to remain focused even though there was a chance my match would not matter. I think I did a better job than my opponent of staying focused and really firing out at the beginning of the third set. I broke him the first game and then held my serve to give me the momentum and carried that through the rest of the set. I started to get the feeling in the third set when I was up 2-0 that my match would count but Faust did not lose till I was up 3-0. That is when I realized it was all coming down to my match. I saw everyone walking over and they had not stopped my match. I asked one of our players what happened and they said Scott lost and I knew it was all on my shoulders.
The closer
BAUSCH: There is not a better guy then Erik Bildman to handle the pressure. He worked hard at it every day. In four years he missed only two practices and he has come through with big singles wins during the course of his career. There was not a doubt in my mind whether he was going to come out and play well or perform well it was a question of whether he was going to win.
CLAYTON: When it came down to Erik it made me nervous cause he had it tough at #1. Our team is pretty even all around and no one really stands out but Bildman stood out that day.
The perfect ending
CLAYTON: It was the greatest we all rushed the court and congratulated Bildman and he had a huge smile on his face. The capping performance of the year and the best way for him to go, finishing it out with a win and a win that won us the match.
BILDMAN: I will always remember the BIG EAST tournament especially that last match.
BAUSCH: Erik and I hugged and I said congratulations and that was it. We had a great moment of team pride.
