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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Hazleton Area&#8217;s Stephanie Mazurek and Wyoming Area&#8217;s Brianna Pizzano repeated District 2 girls tennis championships Friday at Kirby Park, but Mazurek was able to find a way to add to that accomplishment.</p><p>Mazurek beat teammate Lily Nowak in the District 2 Class 3A final for the second straight year, but unlike 2016, she also claimed the championship for the entire District 2-4 Class 3A Subregional and the state tournament berth that went with it.</p><p>Last year&#8217;s Mazurek-Nowak match was played after the conclusion of subregional play because they had each been beaten by District 4&#8217;s Amanda Southard, from Williamsport, in the subregional final and semifinal.</p><p>&#8220;It was more disappointing because I was hoping to take the whole tournament,&#8221; Mazurek said of the 2016 match. &#8220;Afterward, I was glad I was able to come back and play for district championship, but it wasn&#8217;t the same.</p><p>&#8220;I still felt like I finished second and I wanted to go on and play at states.&#8221;</p><p>Mazurek won the title rematch, 6-2, 6-4, after both Hazleton Area players had won their semifinals earlier Friday afternoon by taking the second sets, 6-0.</p><p>Pizzano, a sophomore, has already won two district titles &#8212; the first two ever for Wyoming Area. She defeated Scranton Prep&#8217;s Gabriela Jakubek, 6-1, 6-1, in the District 2 Class 2A final.</p><p>Mazurek and Nowak will be back at Kirby Park Monday as the top two singles players when Hazleton Area tries to take the Subregional team title in a 3 p.m. match against Abington Heights. Mazurek hopes the way both played Friday helps then.</p><p>&#8220;We practice against each other every day,&#8221; Mazurek said Nowak.</p><p>But, that does not replace playing each other with a title on the line.</p><p>Mazurek, the top-seed, got to the final by beating Wallenpaupack&#8217;s Phoebe Cykosky, 6-3, 6-0. Second-seeded Nowak topped Lauren Carroll from Abington Heights, 7-5, 6-0.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s always important to practice match play, especially before districts,&#8221; Mazurek said. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad I got to play her for what that could do for team.&#8221;</p><p>Mazurek thought her teammate seemed nervous early, but played much better while putting up a serious second-set challenge.</p><p>&#8220;She really stepped up her level and it made it more difficult for me to play her,&#8221; Mazurek said. &#8220;She played very well and she has nothing to be ashamed of.&#8221;</p><p>Pizzano lost just four games in four sets Friday and five games in 10 sets for the entire tournament. She expertly moved the ball around during several long points with Jakubek and made repeating as district champion look routine while closing out the match by winning the last four games.</p><p>&#8220;I was less nervous and my shots were just falling in place,&#8221; Pizzano said. &#8220;It all just worked in my favor.&#8221;</p><p>Three of Friday&#8217;s four Class 2A semifinals were Wyoming Valley Conference players.</p><p>Pizzano defeated Wyoming Seminary&#8217;s Nicole Joanlanne, 6-2, 6-0, in one semifinal while Jakubek eliminated Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Camryn Cassetori, 6-3, 6-0, in the other.</p><p>Both champions advance to the state singles tournament in Hershey Nov. 3-4.</p><p>&#8220;I think I&#8217;m just going to work on my serve because last year that was my weakness down there,&#8221; Pizzano said. &#8220;If I can improve that, I&#8217;ll have a better chance of winning some matches.&#8221;</p><p>Mazurek&#8217;s experiences playing in tournaments outside the high school season help her know the challenge that is ahead.</p><p>&#8220;Especially in Triple-A, there are so many good players from Philly and Pittsburgh,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I travel to a lot of tournaments in Philadelphia and the level there is just incredible.&#8221;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DISTRICT 2-4 CLASS 3A SUBREGIONAL</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Semifinals</strong></p><p>Stephanie Mazurek, HAZ def. Phoebe Cykosky, WALL, 6-3, 6-0; Lily Nowak, HAZ def. Lauren Carroll, AH, 7-5, 6-0.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Final</strong></p><p>Mazurek, HAZ def. Nowak, HAZ, 6-2, 6-4.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>DISTRICT 2 CLASS 2A</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Semifinals</strong></p><p>Brianna Pizzano, WYO def. Nicole Joanlanne, SEM, 6-2, 6-0; Gabriela Jakubek, PREP def. Camryn Cassetori, HR, 6-3, 6-0.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Final</strong></p><p>Pizzano, WYO def. Jakubek, PREP, 6-1, 6-1.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Robinson</p><p>For the Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Times Leader sports or on Twitter @TLsports</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Hazleton’s Stephanie Mazurek, Wyoming Area’s Brianna Pizzano repeat at tennis districts