Wisconsin Men's Tennis Drops Deciding Point to Middle Tennessee State in Homecoming Loss

Six points. That is the total number of singles matches Wisconsin won across its two-match weekend schedule, a statistic that underscores the stark contrast between a dominant home performance and a frustrating road defeat. The Badgers split their results over the past 48 hours, securing a program first at Nielsen Tennis Center before falling to Middle Tennessee State in a closely contested finale. The team now sits at 6-6 on the season and 0-1 in Big Ten play, continuing its search for its first away victory of the year.

The weekend began with a milestone achievement on Friday afternoon. Wisconsin hosted Pennsylvania, a team it had never defeated in program history. Last year’s meeting ended in a 4-3 loss for the Badgers, but this time the home crew delivered a decisive 6-1 shutout. The Quakers, who entered the match with a 4-7 record, were never in control. The Badgers established an early lead and never looked back, breaking a long-standing barrier in their conference rivalry.

The doubles matches set the tone for the one-sided affair in Madison. The No. 1 pair of senior Josef Dodridge and junior Osgar O'Hoisin recorded a 6-1 victory, extending their perfect record as a duo this season. Sophomores Daniel Soyfer and Chase Colton followed with a 6-2 win to secure the doubles point. The singles matches mirrored the doubles dominance, with Wisconsin winning every match except one.

Colton, Soyfer, and Dodridge all dispatched their opponents in straight sets. Freshman Jesper Freimuth also contributed a clean sweep, winning 6-2 and 6-3. The only extended battle came from O'Hoisin, who required three sets to close out the match. He dropped the second set but rallied to win the final tiebreak 10-2 after taking the first set 7-5 and losing the middle frame 4-6.

The mood shifted as the team traveled to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to face Middle Tennessee State. The Blue Raiders entered the contest with a 10-2 overall record and an undefeated home mark this season. They had already shut out five opponents on their own courts, making the Badgers' task difficult from the start. Wisconsin, however, started strong in the doubles rounds.

Dodridge and O'Hoisin defeated Chris Edge and Tom Moonen 6-4 in the opening doubles match. Senior Chema Carranza and Freimuth then beat Glan Issa and Jan Porteset 6-2 to give Wisconsin the doubles point. The Badgers maintained their momentum into the singles, with Soyfer posting a 6-4, 6-3 victory. This win improved Soyfer’s singles record to 10-0 for the season, showcasing his consistency on the tour.

Middle Tennessee State responded with a three-match run to take a 3-2 lead. Dodridge tied the match at 3-3 with a 7-6, 6-1 win, setting up a decider at No. 2 singles between Carranza and Moonen. The match hinged on this final contest, with both teams fighting for the deciding point in front of a home crowd that had not seen a loss in Murfreesboro all season.

Carranza dropped the first set in a 7-6 tiebreak but won the second frame 6-1. The third set became a tense affair as Carranza led 5-4. Moonen mounted a comeback to win the final set 7-5, clinching the match for the Blue Raiders. The loss proved difficult for the Badgers, but head coach Danny Westerman viewed the experience as a necessary step in the team’s development.

“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 Badgers will return to Nielsen Tennis Center next weekend for a Sunday doubleheader against Cornell and UW-Green Bay, aiming to convert home advantage into another victory.