By Robert Wilson
Mignon Hodges is considered one of the best female adult tennis players in Mississippi. She is a 4.5 level player who has won dozens of state and regional championships and played in four national tournaments.
But for the past several years, especially during the tennis season, Hodges is known as Izzy’s mom.
The Pillow Academy senior completed her amazing tennis career Thursday as she and junior Madeline Carroll won their fourth consecutive MAIS state tennis title with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Lamar School’s Vivi Leigh Yarbrough and Bailey Brooke Mayatt for the Class 4A, Division I doubles championship at Ridgeland Tennis Center.
The talented duo finished their career with a 52-1 record with its only loss in the first match of the 2024 season to Starkville Academy in a third set tiebreaker. They finished Thursday with their 40th consecutive victory.
“They are the greatest doubles team ever in the history of Pillow Academy, and one of the greatest doubles teams ever in the history of the MAIS,” said Pillow assistant coach Suresh Chawla, who was the head coach for the previous five seasons. “Izzy and Madeline are like Montana and Rice or Jordan and Pippen. If one is down, the other one knows exactly what to do to get their teammate up. They don’t even have to communicate out loud, it’s almost like they telepathically know what each other is going to do. These two have had great chemistry in softball, basketball and tennis for the last decade. If they had played tennis solely throughout the year and focused on that as one sport, I know for a fact that they both would have been at least Division 2 tennis stars at the collegiate level.
“When my daughter (Dia Chawla) was a senior, I watched an eighth grader named Izzy Hodges and a seventh grader named Madeline Carroll come within an eyelash of qualifying for the state tournament. I realized right then and there that they have the potential to perhaps win a state championship before they finish their careers at Pillow. The fact that these two girls have dominated MAIS doubles tennis the last four years tells me I underestimated their talent. Four years and four championships – how incredible is that?”
“It’s been an honor to coach Izzy and Madeline as head coach at Pillow,” said first-year Pillow head coach Brady McDaniel, who won five individual state championships and was a part of four team state titles at Pillow. McDaniel played at Mississippi College and was also an assistant men’s and women’s coach there for three years before coming back to Greenwood last summer as Pillow’s coach and teaching pro at Twin Rivers. “They are two of the best competitors I have had the privilege of coaching. Their friendship and chemistry on the court is what fuels this team. They bring the best out of each other as doubles partners and are always having fun when they play. Their work ethic and mentality are unmatched. They deserve all of the success they’ve had over the years.”
“Madeline and I are like sisters,” Hodges said. “We have grown up playing sports together our whole life. When I’m on the court with her, I feel unstoppable. She knows me better than I know myself some days and that connection is our strength. Four consecutive state titles is something I will forever be proud of, but sharing that journey with her will forever be the biggest blessing.”
Said Carroll: “I’m so thankful for the last five years and having the opportunity to play with my best friend by my side making Pillow Academy tennis history.”
Not only does Hodges and Carroll excel in tennis, they also started in basketball and softball for Pillow. Both played guard in basketball. They helped Pillow to a 22-9 record and Overall Tournament quarterfinals this season. Hodges’ mom, Mignon, is a longtime assistant basketball coach for head coach Durwin Carpenter, the second winningest girls basketball coach in Mississippi history. Hodges plays second base and Carroll centerfield in softball. They helped Pillow to a Class 4A Division II state tournament appearance. Hodges is also a cheerleader.
Hodges and Carroll’s victory led Pillow to the Division II state girls championship, the school’s third straight state girls tennis title. The Lady Mustangs also got points from Stella Buford (No. 2 singles champion in Division II), Annie Powers (No. 2 singles runner-up in Division II), JonHartley Slater and Sarah Douglas Thatch (No. 2 doubles semifinalists in Division I) and James Mattox and Anna Claire Swayze (mixed doubles runner-up in Division II).
Pillow freshman Langdon Dyksterhouse also won a state championship at No. 2 boys singles in Division II.
“I’m super proud of our team for winning the girls 4A D2 title,” McDaniel said. “I inherited a great team that made it easy on me as a first year head coach. It definitely was a team effort as we battled and earned points at very position today. We have a really special group and I am happy to be able to end the year as state champs.”
