Brianna Pizzano, 21-years-old Exeter native, is shown next to the MAC banner after capturing the No. 1 singles title of the tournament held at Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre. Fifteen other singles player were vying for the title.
Courtesy of Jack Monick
Brianna Pizzano, a junior at Misericordia University, is shown competing at No. 1 singles during the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) tournament at Kirby Park. Pizzano swept her matches taking the singles title in the event. She was also named MAC Player of the Week.
Courtesy of Jack Monick
Brianna Pizzano, a two-times PIAA District II champion now playing for Misericordia University, preparing to serve, was named MAC Player of the Year for the 2021-2022 season. The junior has three years of eligiblity left in her collegiate career.
Courtesy of Jack Monick
DALLAS — Brianna Pizzano, a 2020 graduate of Wyoming Area, has been excelling in the sport of tennis for most of her 21-years. She was an excellent junior tennis player, she dominated the courts while at Wyoming Area and now in the collegiate ranks, she has been slaying opponents one-by-one remaining undefeated in the last 2½ years.
Pizzano, a junior at Misericordia University, is coming fresh off of capturing the 2022 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Women’s Tennis Individual Championship title. She defeated Stevens’ No. 1 player Agatha Malinowski 6-4, 6-3 in the final. It was her second consecutive title at No. 1 singles.
Tennis powerhouse Stevens captured titles at No. 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 singles and doubles titles at No. 1, 3, and 4 at the MACs.
In taking the title at MACs, Pizzano was named Player of the Week, an honor she’s been named on six other occasions.
“I feel like I’ve improved a lot and I work a lot harder than I did being at high school,” Pizzano, an Exeter native, said. “I feel line No. 1 pushed me to continue to grow and not be at the same level I was. I feel like my mental game improved the most. I feel in high school I was a ball of nerves and now I feel I have a lot more confidence.”
While at Wyoming Area, Pizzano played all four-year of her career without playing a home match due to the unplayable court conditions. For her whole career, the courts at West Pittston were locked up and in disrepair. Her “home games” were played at Pittston Area’s Mattei School tennis courts.
Even under the playing conditions of hitting the road match after match, Pizzano ended up being the most successful female tennis player in the school’s history.
She was a two-time PIAA District II champion and two-time runner up. As the district champion, Pizzano got her first taste of playing topnotch players from around the state. It was a huge learning lesson for her; a lesson that would favor her as she progressed into the college ranks.
“College tennis is a lot harder since I’m playing the best player from every team,” Pizzano admitted. “Every single match is difficult for me still.”
According to Pizzano, she’s won approximately 30 singles matches against zero losses in her collegiate career. Stats have not been a concern for Pizzano in her career.
“I’m something an 0,” Pizzano quipped. “I guess I’ve won about 30-matches.”
Pizzano said she continues to improve while in college learning new technique along the way.
She said she hits the gym more and has gained muscle mass in the last two years while maintaining her speed on the court. Pizzano has always been known for her quickness over her career.
“I feel like my first serve has gotten a lot faster, I feel like it’s a weapon now,” Pizzano said. “My second serve has a lot more spin on it now.”
Pizzano said her current coach, Jack Monick, taught her to hit a spin serve for doubles matches.
As a result of Pizzano playing 14-0 in singles play and 11-3 in doubles, she took home the MAC Player of the Year for the 2021-2022 season.
All collegiate players have been granted an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic year and Pizzano will possibly play a fifth year.
With four matches left in the fall season, Pizzano will look forward to the bulk of her schedule in the spring.
She said she’s hoping to continuing her winning ways and to fulfill a goal of taking a team title for Misericorida.
