Wisconsin Badgers defeat Pennsylvania but drop close match at Middle Tennessee State

The Wisconsin men's tennis team ended its weekend with a mixed result, securing a decisive victory over Pennsylvania at home before falling in a tightly contested match at Middle Tennessee State. The Badgers now sit with an overall record of 6-6 and a 0-1 mark in Big Ten play. Notably, the team remains without a road win this season, highlighting a continued struggle to convert home success into points away from Nielsen Tennis Center.

The weekend began with a significant improvement in head-to-head history. Wisconsin had never beaten the Pennsylvania Quakers before, including a 4-3 loss in the previous year's meeting. However, the dynamic shifted on Friday afternoon as the Badgers dismantled the 4-7 Quakers with a 6-1 scoreline. The Badgers established control early in the doubles session. The No. 1 pair of senior Josef Dodridge and junior Osgar O'Hoisin won their match 6-1, maintaining their undefeated record as a duo. Sophomores Daniel Soyfer and Chase Colton followed with a 6-2 victory to set the tone for the afternoon.

The momentum carried into the singles matches, where Wisconsin won all but one. Colton, Soyfer, and Dodridge all secured straight-set victories. Freshman Jesper Freimuth contributed a 6-2, 6-3 win. O'Hoisin required three sets to finish his match, prevailing with a score of 7-5, 4-6, and 10-2. This performance showcased the depth of the roster and their ability to close out matches against a team they had historically struggled to overcome.

The tone changed as the team traveled to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to face the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders. The hosts entered the match with a strong 10-2 record and an unbeaten home record, having shut out five opponents already. Wisconsin started the contest on the right foot, taking the doubles point. O'Hoisin and Dodridge beat Chris Edge and Tom Moonen 6-4. Senior Chema Carranza and Freimuth then defeated Glan Issa and Jan Porteset 6-2 to put Wisconsin ahead.

Soyfer added an early singles win, improving to a 10-0 record in singles this season by winning 6-4 and 6-3. Despite the strong start, Middle Tennessee State answered with wins in the next three singles matches to take a 3-2 lead. Dodridge managed to tie the score at 3-3 with a 7-6 and 6-1 victory. This left the outcome of the match to hinge on the final singles contest between Carranza and Moonen.

The final match proved to be a dramatic three-set affair. Carranza lost the opening set in a 7-6 tiebreak but bounced back to win the second set 6-1. In the deciding set, Carranza held a 5-4 lead, placing Wisconsin on the brink of a road win. However, Moonen mounted a comeback to win the final game 7-5, securing the 4-3 victory for the Blue Raiders.

Head coach Danny Westerman acknowledged the difficulty of the loss while emphasizing its value for the team's development. He noted that the team needs to keep working to overcome these challenges. Westerman stated that the experience helps them prepare for future hurdles, saying, "This one stings. We need to keep working. We put ourselves in these situations so we can eventually get over the hump," in an interview with UWBadgers.com.

The Badgers will have an opportunity to bounce back immediately. The team returns to Nielsen Tennis Center next weekend for a Sunday doubleheader. They will face both Cornell and UW-Green Bay, aiming to build on their home form and extend their winning streak in front of their own fans.