CONGRATULATIONS: Ole Miss Star Crowned Women’s Tennis MVP After Receiving Prestigious Honor in a Season to Remember
In a season destined to be etched in Rebel lore, Isabella “Izzy” Marlowe, the electric junior from Charleston, South Carolina, was crowned the 2025 Women’s Tennis Most Valuable Player, igniting waves of celebration across the Ole Miss campus. The announcement came shortly after she led the Rebels to their first SEC Championship title in over a decade, completing what many are calling one of the most dominant single-season performances in modern collegiate tennis history.
Marlowe, known for her explosive forehand and ironclad mental game, posted an astounding 28-1 singles record this season, including an undefeated run in conference play. Her victory over Florida’s top-seeded Petra Novak in a grueling 3-set thriller during the SEC finals secured Ole Miss a dramatic 4-3 win—sending the team, coaching staff, and fans into rapture.
But the MVP accolade, formally presented by the United States Collegiate Tennis Federation (USCTF), wasn’t just about stats—it was a tribute to her leadership, resilience, and unwavering sportsmanship. Off the court, Marlowe served as team captain, organizing community outreach events and mentoring younger players, including standout freshman Anya Rao. Together, they formed the most formidable doubles team in the SEC, with a 17-2 record and a signature comeback win at the NCAA Regionals that sparked national attention.
What sets Marlowe apart, however, is her uncanny ability to rise under pressure. During the NCAA Quarterfinals against UCLA, with Ole Miss trailing 2-3, she rallied from a 2-5 third-set deficit to win 7-5, clinching the tie and advancing the Rebels to the Final Four for the first time since 1999. “She’s our heart, our fight, our fire,” head coach Lisa Callahan said during the post-match press conference. “When Izzy steps on the court, she changes everything.”
The MVP ceremony, held at a packed Pavilion at Ole Miss, was a moment of emotional triumph. With tears in her eyes and the crowd chanting her name, Marlowe accepted the honor draped in the school’s iconic red and navy blue, her racquet slung over her shoulder like a badge of honor. She dedicated the award to her late grandmother, a former tennis coach who taught her to play on cracked public courts back home.
Now projected as a top-three pick in the upcoming National Collegiate Draft, Marlowe is already drawing comparisons to legends like Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty. But for her, the focus remains grounded. “This isn’t just my victory,” she said. “It’s for every Rebel who believed, every teammate who fought, and every little girl who’s been told she can’t serve an ace.”
Indeed, Izzy Marlowe’s 2025 season wasn’t just exceptional—it was revolutionary. And in Oxford, Mississippi, her name will forever echo as the woman who turned passion into power and made Ole Miss tennis a force to be reckoned with.
