Badgers Split Weekend Tennis Schedule

For the Wisconsin men's tennis team, the most recent weekend delivered a mixed result that leaves the squad in the middle of the pack. The Badgers secured a victory at home before dropping a close contest on the road. They currently hold an overall record of 6-6 and stand 0-1 in Big Ten play, still searching for their first win away from Madison this season.

The first match of the weekend saw the Badgers host Pennsylvania at Nielsen Tennis Center. This contest carried historical weight, as Wisconsin had never defeated the Quakers in program history. The previous meeting ended in a 4-3 loss for the Badgers. This time, however, Wisconsin dominated the competition to claim a 6-1 victory over the 4-7 Quakers.

Wisconsin established an early advantage by securing the doubles point. The No. 1 pairing of senior Josef Dodridge and junior Osgar O'Hoisin won their match 6-1, maintaining their unbeaten record as a duo this season. Sophomores Daniel Soyfer and Chase Colton contributed to the doubles sweep with a 6-2 win.

In the singles matches, Wisconsin won all but one. Colton, Soyfer, and Dodridge each won in straight sets. Freshman Jesper Freimuth also secured a straight-set victory with a score of 6-2 and 6-3. O'Hoisin required three sets, eventually winning 7-5, 4-6, and 10-2 to complete the rout.

The team then traveled to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to face Middle Tennessee State. The Blue Raiders entered the match with a 10-2 record and had not lost at home all season. They had already shut out five opponents, making the Badgers' performance a significant test against a dominant host.

Wisconsin started the second match strong. O'Hoisin and Dodridge defeated Chris Edge and Tom Moonen 6-4 in doubles. Senior Chema Carranza and Freimuth then beat Glan Issa and Jan Porteset 6-2, giving Wisconsin the doubles point. In singles, Soyfer won 6-4 and 6-3, improving his personal singles record to 10-0 for the season.

Middle Tennessee State responded by winning the next three singles matches to take a 3-2 lead. Dodridge tied the match at 3-3 with a 7-6 and 6-1 victory. This set the stage for the deciding match between Carranza and Moonen at the No. 2 singles position.

Carranza lost the first set in a tiebreak but bounced back to win the second set 6-1. In the third set, he led 5-4, but Moonen recovered to win 7-5, securing the match for the Blue Raiders. Head coach Danny Westerman noted the loss was tough but necessary for growth. '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 doubleheader against Cornell and UW-Green Bay on Sunday. The team looks to build on the recent home victory and address the issues highlighted by the road loss.