Badgers Drop Decisive Tie to Middle Tennessee State After Home Victory

The Wisconsin men's tennis team navigated a mixed weekend of results that left them balanced in their overall record but still searching for a breakthrough on the road. The Badgers split their two matches, defeating Pennsylvania at home before suffering a narrow defeat at Middle Tennessee State. This outcome keeps the team at 6-6 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play, a record that highlights the difficulty they have faced away from Nielsen Tennis Center this season.

The weekend began with a historic victory on Friday afternoon. Wisconsin had never defeated the Pennsylvania Quakers in program history, a streak that included a 4-3 loss in the previous year's meeting. That drought ended decisively as the Badgers rolled to a 6-1 win over the 4-7 Quakers. The margin of victory reflected a comprehensive performance that secured the doubles point early and maintained momentum throughout the singles sessions.

The foundation for the win against Pennsylvania was laid in the doubles rounds. The No. 1 pair of senior Josef Dodridge and junior Osgar O'Hoisin won 6-1, extending their perfect record as a duo this season. Sophomores Daniel Soyfer and Chase Colton contributed a 6-2 victory to complete the doubles score. In singles, the Badgers won all but one match. Colton, Soyfer, and Dodridge each secured straight-set victories, while freshman Jesper Freimuth won 6-2 and 6-3. O'Hoisin required three sets, ultimately prevailing 7-5, 4-6, and 10-2.

The tone shifted as the team traveled to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to face Middle Tennessee State. The Blue Raiders entered the match with a 10-2 record and a perfect home slate, having not lost on their own courts and shutting out five opponents. Wisconsin started strong, with the Dodridge and O'Hoisin pair beating Chris Edge and Tom Moonen 6-4. Senior Chema Carranza and Freimuth followed with a 6-2 win over Glan Issa and Jan Porteset to claim the doubles point. In singles, Soyfer won 6-4 and 6-3, improving his personal season record to 10-0.

Middle Tennessee State responded by taking the next three singles matches, building a 3-2 lead. Dodridge restored balance by tying the match at 3-3 with a 7-6 and 6-1 victory. This left the outcome to rest on the shoulders of Carranza and Tom Moonen in the final No. 2 singles match, a scenario that often defines the pressure of collegiate tennis.

The final match remained competitive into the third set. Carranza lost the first set in a 7-6 tiebreak but rebounded to win the second 6-1. In the deciding set, he led 5-4, a position that offered a clear path to victory. Moonen, however, rallied to close out the set 7-5, securing the win for the Blue Raiders and ending Wisconsin's hopes for a road victory.

Head coach Danny Westerman acknowledged the difficulty of the loss but viewed it as a necessary part of the team's development. He noted that the team must continue its work to overcome these challenges. "This one stings. We need to keep working. We put ourselves in these situations so we can eventually get over the hump," Westerman told UWBadgers.com. The coach emphasized the value of these competitive experiences for the squad's growth.

The Badgers will return to Nielsen Tennis Center next weekend for a Sunday doubleheader. They are scheduled to face Cornell and UW-Green Bay, providing another opportunity to build on their home performance and seek the consistency that has eluded them on the road this season.