MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Wisconsin's opening-week win over No. 34 Princeton and undefeated start was enough to propel them into the national rankings this week. After Sunday's thrilling 4-3 win at No. 23 Minnesota, the Badgers men's tennis team proved they belonged.
 

The Badgers (5-0) thrived under pressure during their first conference match of the season against the defending Big Ten co-champions, which came down to the wire as sophomore Josef Dodridge clinched the match for UW in the third set at the No. 1 singles spot.
 

"I'm so proud of the fight in our guys," head coach Danny Westerman said after Wisconsin registered its highest-ranked win since 2010. "It was a complete team win and the support our guys give to one another is tremendous. We were down on a lot of singles courts early after doubles, but the guys just continued to fight and we found a way to win."
 

The Gophers got on the board first after securing the doubles point. Sophomore Chema Carranza and senior Johnnie Jalalov claimed the sole win at doubles for Wisconsin, dispatching Minnesota's Justyn Levin and Josip Krstanovic, 6-1.
 

Singles play was neck and neck as the border rivals squared off. Remy tied the match at 1 apiece, defeating opponent Justyn Levin, 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 3 slot. Minnesota pulled back ahead as Kokorev fell to 95th-ranked Ruben Weber, 6-3, 6-3.

Carranza brought the match back to even, defeating Jeremy Levin, 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 in the No. 6 position. Sophomore Darius Mackenzie battled hard but was bested by Marino Alpeza in three sets at the No. 5 spot, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 6-2.
 

Freshman Osgar O'Hoisin showed grit and resolve, tying it all up again at 3-3 after taking down Josip Krstanovic at the No. 4 slot in three sets, winning 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. In his third set, O'Hoisin saved three match points, keeping his team in contention for a win.

"Osgar showed a ton of poise and trusted his game in the most critical point of the match," Westerman said.

It all came down to the No. 1 spot, where sophomore Josef Dodridge faced off against Matic Spec, who was named last season's Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

After Dodridge grabbed the first set 7-5, Spec came back and won the second set 7-6 (7-5), forcing a third frame that would decide the overall team match. Dialed in, Dodridge cruised to a 6-1 win in the third, clinching the upset win for UW.
 

"It's a fantastic win for Joe," said Westerman. "He beat one of the top players in the Big Ten today in the highest pressure situation. It's a credit to him working extremely hard and sticking with the game plan."
 

At 5-0, this marks the Badgers' best start since 2013, which is the same year UW last defeated the Gophers.

Wisconsin returns home next weekend as it hosts DePaul on Saturday, Feb. 13. Match time is set for 11 a.m. and admission is free to the public.
 

Results - Sunday, February 7

Men's Singles:

1. Josef Dodridge (UW) def. Matic Spec (MINN), 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1

2. #95 Ruben Weber (MINN) def. Alexander Kokorev (WIS), 6-3, 6-3

3. Lamar Remy (WIS) def. Justyn Levin (MINN), 6-3, 6-3

4. Osgar O'Hoisin (WIS) def. Josip Krstanovic (MINN), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5

5. Marino Alpeza (MINN) def. Darius Mackenzie (WIS), 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 6-2

6. Chema Carranza (WIS) def. Jeremy Lynn (MINN), 7-6 (11-9), 6-2

Men's Doubles:

1. Ruben Weber/Marino Alpeza (MINN) def, Josef Dodridge/Lamar Remy (WIS), 6-4

2. Chema Carranza/Jakhongir Jalalov (WIS) def. Justyn Levin/Josip Krstanovic (MINN), 6-1

3. Jeremy Lynn/Matic Spec (MINN) def. Alexander Kokorev/Darius Mackenzie (WIS), 6-2