Badgers split weekend with Penn and MTSU

The Wisconsin men's tennis team concluded a split weekend on October 23, 2026, by dropping a closely contested match to Middle Tennessee State in the final singles point. This loss follows a decisive 6-1 victory over Pennsylvania earlier in the same weekend. The Badgers now hold a 6-6 overall record and stand 0-1 in Big Ten play, continuing a season-long search for their first road win.

The home match against the Quakers marked a historic program milestone. Wisconsin had never defeated Pennsylvania in their previous meetings, including a 4-3 loss the prior year. This time, the Badgers dominated the contest at Nielsen Tennis Center. They secured the doubles point immediately with wins from the No. 1 pair of senior Josef Dodridge and junior Osgar O'Hoisin, who remain unbeaten as a duo, as well as sophomores Daniel Soyfer and Chase Colton. The team then closed out the singles matches, with only O'Hoisin requiring a third set to finish at 10-2.

The dynamic shifted significantly during the travel match in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where the Badgers faced a Middle Tennessee State squad that had not lost at home all season. The Blue Raiders had already shut out five opponents, making the Wisconsin start all the more impressive. O'Hoisin and Dodridge won the opening doubles match, followed by a victory from senior Chema Carranza and freshman Jesper Freimuth. In singles, Soyfer added a straight-set win to reach 10-0 in the category this season, putting Wisconsin up 3-2 before the Blue Raiders took control of the next three matches.

The match was ultimately decided by the final point, a scenario that has defined several of the Badgers' recent outings. Dodridge tied the score at 3-3 with a 7-6, 6-1 victory, setting the stage for Carranza to face Tom Moonen at No. 2 singles. Carranza lost the first set in a tiebreak but recovered to take the second 6-1. In the deciding third set, he held a 5-4 advantage before Moonen mounted a comeback to win 7-5, securing the match for the home team.

Coach Danny Westerman acknowledged the frustration of the result while highlighting the long-term value of such competitive matches. He noted that the team needs to continue working through these difficult situations to eventually overcome their hurdles. The loss provides a clear roadmap for improvement as the season progresses, particularly in closing out tight matches on the road.

With the record now even, the Badgers return to Nielsen Tennis Center next weekend for a Sunday doubleheader. They will host both Cornell and UW-Green Bay, offering a chance to build momentum ahead of upcoming conference challenges.