Badgers suffer homecoming loss to Middle Tennessee State despite weekend win over Penn

The Wisconsin men's tennis team returned home from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Monday with a split result that kept their road winning streak at zero. The Badgers dropped a closely contested match to Middle Tennessee State, a team that had not lost at home all season. This defeat leaves Wisconsin with an overall record of 6-6 and a Big Ten record of 0-1. The team is still searching for its first road win this year, a gap that now feels increasingly difficult to close.

The weekend began with a significant milestone in Madison. On Friday afternoon, Wisconsin hosted Pennsylvania at the Nielsen Tennis Center. This matchup held historical weight, as the Badgers had never defeated the Quakers in program history. Last year's meeting ended in a 4-3 loss for Wisconsin. This time, the home team dominated, securing a 6-1 victory to erase that historical barrier.

The path to that Friday win was clear. Wisconsin took the doubles point immediately. The No. 1 pair of senior Josef Dodridge and junior Osgar O'Hoisin won their match 6-1, extending their unbeaten streak as a duo. Sophomores Daniel Soyfer and Chase Colton followed with a 6-2 victory. In singles, the Badgers won all but one match. Colton, Soyfer, and Dodridge each won in straight sets. Freshman Jesper Freimuth also won in two sets, dropping the first 2-6 and winning the second 6-3. O'Hoisin required three sets, winning the decider 10-2 after a 6-4 loss in the second set.

The atmosphere shifted as the team traveled to Middle Tennessee State, which entered the match with a 10-2 record. The Blue Raiders had shut out five opponents and remained undefeated on their home courts. Wisconsin started strong, 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.

Singles play began with a win for Soyfer, who improved to 10-0 on the season with a 6-4, 6-3 decision. However, Middle Tennessee State responded by winning the next three matches to take a 3-2 lead. Dodridge tied the score at 3-3 with a 7-6, 6-1 victory, setting up a decisive final match between Carranza and Moonen at No. 2 singles.

The deciding match was a back-and-forth affair. Carranza lost the first set in a tiebreak, 7-6. He recovered to win the second set 6-1. In the deciding third set, Carranza led 5-4. Moonen, however, rallied to win the set 7-5, clinching the match for the Blue Raiders.

Head coach Danny Westerman acknowledged the difficulty of the loss. He noted that while the result hurts, it provides necessary experience. Westerman stated, "This one stings. We need to keep working. We put ourselves in these situations so we can eventually get over the hump." The coach emphasized the team's commitment to continuous improvement despite the setback.

Wisconsin will return to the Nielsen Tennis Center next weekend for a doubleheader. The Badgers are scheduled to play against Cornell and UW-Green Bay on Sunday. The team will look to bounce back in front of its home crowd after the tough trip to Tennessee.