MADISON, Wis. – After going 4-18 in the Big Ten over the last two seasons, Wisconsin's ascent to the upper half of the conference's men's tennis standings this year has been remarkable. However, Sunday afternoon, the 44th-ranked Badgers learned they still have room to improve.

The Badgers (14-4, 4-3) came up just short of posting their sixth win over a ranked foe this season, falling 5-2 to No. 21 Michigan (17-4, 6-1) at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

"We consider ourselves on the same level as Michigan, who is one of the Big Ten's top programs," head coach Danny Westerman said. "There were four singles matches in three sets today and doubles was one apiece, so five of the seven points were 50/50 matches. We were right there.

"First, you need to get there and we've worked all season to be at that level. Now we need to close out these matches. We haven't been in this situation enough times and hopefully we'll learn from this one and be even better next week."

Darius Mackenzie tallied Wisconsin's first win of the day, besting Michigan's Myles Schalet. The sophomore from Woodland Hills, California, picked up his first-career Big Ten win of the season with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) win on court six.

Fellow sophomore Chema Carranza also played his way into the winner's circle on Sunday. After splitting the first two sets, 7-6 (7-1) and 0-6, the Montequinto, Spain, native out-lasted Michigan's Davis Crocker on court five. With a mark of 14-2, Carranza now leads the Badgers in wins this spring.

"Darius has been playing great and deserved a look today. He and Chema competed really well," Westerman said. "They closed in tight situations, which is the point of athletics. When your heart is pumping and you have an opportunity, can you rise to the occasion? Those two guys did a nice job and we can all learn from them."

At No. 1 singles, sophomore Josef Dodridge came storming back after dropping his first set, but ultimately ran out of gas, falling, 6-3, 0-6, 6-1 to No. 104 Alex Knight. Freshman Osgar O'Hoisin also played into a third set before dropping his match, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, on court four.

Playing his second-ever match at No. 2 singles, sophomore Lamar Remy hung tough with 81st-ranked Jathan Malik, but ultimately dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision. Michigan's Carter Lin was also too much for senior Alexander Kokorev, winning, 6-1, 6-2, on court three.

"We fight really hard, but we wait to play our level until we're down," Westerman said. "It's in us to beat these teams, but we wait until we absolutely need to before taking a little risk. We need to learn in a hurry."

In doubles action, Mackenzie and junior John Zordani had an impressive showing, taking down Michigan's Schalet and Lubomir Cuba, 6-3, on court three. However, that was the only court the Badgers would win, as Dodridge and Remy fell, 6-4, to the 73rd-ranked duo of Knight and Hua on court one. Carranza and senior Johnnie Jalalov also dropped their match to Malik and Tyler Gardiner, 6-2, at number two doubles.

Wisconsin closes out its home schedule next weekend with a pair of matches against No. 33 Penn State and No. 5 Ohio State. The Badgers host the Nittany Lions on Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) and the Buckeyes on Sunday at Noon (CT).

Results – April 10
Michigan 5, Wisconsin 2

SINGLES:
1. #104 Alex Knight (MICH) def. Josef Dodridge (UW), 6-3, 0-6, 6-1
2. #81 Jathan Malik (MICH) def. Lamar Remy (UW), 6-4, 6-4
3. Carter Lin (MICH) def. Alexander Kokorev (UW), 6-1, 6-2
4. Runhao Hua (MICH) def. Osgar O'Hoisin (UW), 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
5. Chema Carranza (UW) def. Davis Crocker (MICH), 7-6 (7-1), 0-6, 6-4
6. Darius Mackenzie (UW) def. Myles Schalet (MICH), 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)

DOUBLES:
1. #73 Knight/Hua (MICH) def. Dodridge/Remy (UW), 6-4
2. Malik/Gardiner (MICH) def. Carranza/Jalalov (UW), 6-2
3. Mackenzie/Zordani (UW) vs. Schalet/Cuba (MICH), 6-3

Order of finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1); Singles (3, 2, 6, 1, 5, 4)