Pillow Academy senior Maggie Taylor is hoping to accomplish two goals at the State AAAA Division II championship in Ridgeland on Wednesday and Thursday — win a team state championship first and win an individual No. 1 girls singles state championship second.
Taylor helped lead her squad to its first team championship in many years last season. The sixth-year starter came up just short last year individually, as Taylor lost to Washington School’s Jordan Ashford 6-2, 6-2 in her first-ever trip to the state finals. With Ashford graduating and out of the way, Taylor hopes that a second time in the finals works like a charm for individual glory.
“After losing last year in the finals, I think Maggie worked hard last summer and fall last year, and she is ready to win it all,” interim head coach Chuck Brown said. “This is her last chance in high school, and she is working hard to make it happen.”
Taylor started in singles as a seventh-grader in 2013 and has worked her way up the ladder to be the No. 1 seed entering the state championships. She is not alone, as every Pillow girl is a No. 1 seed entering the final tournament of the year.
Eighth-grader Dia Chawla hopes to avenge a loss in the state finals in No. 2 girls singles a year ago and win her first singles title. The combination of Mari-Brian Crick and Madison Jefcoat also enters the tournament as the top seed. Crick is the only returning starter who has tasted individual gold, capturing the No. 1 girls doubles championship with senior Amanda Bush last year.
“Mari-Brian brings that experience that is critical to playing in the big matches,” Brown said. “And Madison brings the firepower and tough attitude we need to bring it.”
Pillow’s No. 2 girls doubles tandem of Elizabeth Powers and Anne Craig Melton, both freshmen, is also a top seed. Powers is a new starter this year, and Melton made it to the No. 2 girls doubles finals last year.
The duo of Julia Love Lyon and John Hollis Tackett will have their work cut out for them as they enter the eight-team tournament at mixed doubles as the fourth seed.
Play begins Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Ridgeland Tennis Center with quarterfinal and semifinal matches. The finals will be held at 9 a.m on Thursday.
