Wisconsin Tennis Navigates Mixed Weekend With Home Win and Road Loss

The University of Wisconsin men's tennis team completed a split weekend schedule, securing a strong home victory over Pennsylvania before dropping a narrow match at Middle Tennessee State. This sequence of events leaves the Badgers with an even 6-6 overall record and a 0-1 mark in Big Ten play. Despite the mixed results, the team maintains its focus on establishing consistency and securing its first road win of the season.

The weekend began with a significant milestone in Madison. Wisconsin hosted Pennsylvania, a matchup that had historically been difficult for the Badgers. Prior to this meeting, Wisconsin had never defeated the Quakers in program history, and the previous year's contest ended in a 4-3 loss. This time, the Badgers dominated the competition at the Nielsen Tennis Center, finishing with a comprehensive 6-1 victory that snapped a long-standing losing streak.

The offensive momentum started early with the doubles points. The top pairing of senior Josef Dodridge and junior Osgar O'Hoisin delivered a 6-1 win, extending their undefeated record as a duo this season. Sophomores Daniel Soyfer and Chase Colton followed suit with a 6-2 victory, setting the stage for a commanding performance in the individual singles matches.

In the singles portion of the match, Wisconsin maintained high efficiency. Colton, Soyfer, and Dodridge all secured their victories in straight sets. Freshman Jesper Freimuth contributed a 6-2, 6-3 win, while O'Hoisin required three sets to close out the match with a 7-5, 4-6, 10-2 result. This balanced approach across the lineup allowed the Badgers to take control of the scoreboard quickly.

The team then traveled to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to challenge Middle Tennessee State, a program boasting a 10-2 record and an undefeated home slate. The Blue Raiders had already shut out five opponents during the season, making it a formidable test for Wisconsin's ability to compete in hostile environments.

Wisconsin started the match strongly, capturing the doubles point. O'Hoisin and Dodridge defeated Chris Edge and Tom Moonen 6-4. The momentum continued as senior Chema Carranza and Freimuth beat Glan Issa and Jan Porteset 6-2. In singles, Soyfer added to his impressive season with a 6-4, 6-3 win, bringing his individual record to 10-0.

Middle Tennessee State responded by winning the next three singles matches to establish a 3-2 lead. Dodridge kept the Badgers in contention by tying the match at 3-3 with a 7-6, 6-1 victory. This set the stage for a decisive final point between Carranza and Tom Moonen at the No. 2 singles position, determining the outcome of the close contest.

The final point was a battle of resilience. Carranza dropped the first set in a tiebreak but rebounded to take the second 6-1. In the deciding third set, Carranza held a 5-4 lead. However, Moonen mounted a comeback to win the set 7-5, clinching the match for the Blue Raiders and ending Wisconsin's day on the road.

Head coach Danny Westerman emphasized the value of the experience, noting that the loss would serve as a learning opportunity. He stated, "This one stings. We need to keep working. We put ourselves in these situations so we can eventually get over the hump." The team will return to the Nielsen Tennis Center next weekend for a Sunday doubleheader featuring matches against Cornell and UW-Green Bay.