During her time at Kiski Area, Lexi Colaianni was best known for her exploits on the basketball court. She enjoyed a record-setting career with the Cavaliers, and continued her basketball career at the college level at Penn State Altoona. She eventually pivoted to a tennis career with the Lions, however, and now she’s rewritten history for the program. Colaianni is in the spotlight for this installment of the Westmoreland Alum Q&A.

As a freshman at Kiski Area in 2019-20, Colaianni played both basketball and tennis. On the hardwood, she averaged 8.5 points per game, and was recognized as a Second-Team All-Section performer. Collectively, Kiski Area struggled, going 6-16 overall, but 0-12 in section play, failing to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

In tennis, the Cavaliers also failed to reach postseason play.

Beginning as a sophomore, Colaianni put all of her efforts into basketball. She increased her scoring average to 10.1 points, and was Honorable Mention All-Section. The Cavs continued to struggle mightily, though, finishing at 3-17 on the year, including 0-12 once again in section play. With an open playoff format, Kiski Area opted to participate, but fell to McKeesport Area in the Class 5A preliminary round.

Colaianni was sidelined with injury the following season, but the Cavs took a step forward, achieving a mark of 9-13 overall, and 3-9 in section play. However, Kiski Area was left out of the playoffs.

Colaianni returned to both courts – basketball and tennis – as a senior in 2022-23, and made a massive impact. In basketball, she set a KA record by sinking nine 3-pointers in a game against Freeport Area. Her stellar play earned her Second-Team All-Section accolades once again. She also helped Kiski Area compile a record of 9-13 overall, including 6-6 in the section. Thus, the Cavaliers reached the WPIAL playoffs, but fell to Oakland Catholic in the first round.

On the tennis court, Colaianni competed in the Class 3A singles sectional, winning a preliminary match before losing in the first round. She also competed in the doubles section, reaching the semifinals. Thus, she qualified for the WPIAL Class 3A Doubles Championship, where she lost in the first round. In team play, the Cavaliers went 5-3 in section action, advancing to the WPIAL Class 3A postseason for the first time in 13 years. However, the Cavs came up short against North Allegheny in the first round.

With her high school career behind her, Colaianni elected to continue in basketball at Penn State Altoona. She joined the Lions for the 2023-24 season, where she played in seven games. The guard averaged 4.6 points and 1.0 rebounds per game, adding seven assists and five steals. That year, the Lions compiled a record of 15-12 overall, including 11-7 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). Penn State Altoona advanced to the AMCC Tournament, and bested the University of Pitt-Bradford before coming up short against Penn State Behrend in the semifinals.

The next year, though, Colaianni reversed course, and decided to play tennis instead of basketball. She made an instant impact, competing in 19 matches, going 14-5, which established a single-season wins mark for the program. She also registered a record of 8-7 in doubles play. For her performances, Colaianni was a First-Team All-AMCC for No. 6 singles and Second-Team All-AMCC for No. 3 doubles. Collectively, the Lions went 10-11, including 3-2 in the AMCC. Moreover, Penn State Altoona reached the conference tournament, but came up short against Penn State Behrend in the AMCC semifinals.

Last season, Colaianni continued her quick ascent in the sport, as she played in 20 matches, going 15-5 in singles, breaking her own record. Furthermore, she posted a record of 14-2 in doubles action. Consequently, she was named the AMCC Player of the Year, as well as a First-Team All-AMCC performer at both No. 3 singles and No. 3 doubles. Her play helped the Lions go 17-4 overall, including 4-1 in the conference. In the AMCC Tournament, Penn State Altoona knocked off the University of Pitt-Greensburg in the semifinals but fell to Penn State Behrend in the Championship.

Now in her senior campaign, Colaianni has continued to set records. Thus far, she’s gone 14-2 in singles play, and set the record for career singles wins earlier this year. Additionally, she’s posted a mark of 13-2 in doubles. Penn State Altoona has compiled a mark of 13-5 overall, and 6-2 in the AMCC. The Lions returned to the conference tournament, and defeated Mount Aloysius College in the semifinals before coming up short once more against Penn State Behrend in the AMCC Championship. For the second year in a row, Colaianni was tabbed as First-Team All-AMCC in both No. 3 singles and No.3 doubles.

With the fall portion of her senior year behind her, Lexi set aside time to respond to questions about setting the career singles mark at Penn State Altoona, her fondest memories at Kiski Area, and the tennis opponent she’d most like to face.

Q: How have you evaluated your performance thus far this season?

A: I’m not someone who focuses heavily on past records. I may look at how our team performed against an opponent before playing them, but I try not to evaluate my individual performance based solely on results. Tennis is such a day-to-day sport, and so many factors can influence a match. For me, success means leaving the court with confidence that I learned something new, improved a skill, or developed a tactic that I can carry into my next match.

Q: Last month, you broke the Penn State Altoona record for career singles victories. What did that accomplishment mean to you?

A: This accomplishment means so much to me because, for most of my life, I was known as a basketball player. I even came to Penn State Altoona to play basketball. Starting tennis from the ground up and working through the challenges of learning an entirely new sport has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Breaking the all-time singles victories record is a reflection of the dedication, persistence, and growth I’ve put into tennis over the past three years. It is especially meaningful to see how far I’ve come from where I started.

Q: What are the biggest adjustments between playing singles and doubles?

A: For me, the biggest difference is the mental aspect of the game. In singles, I am responsible for my own decisions, adjustments, and mindset. In doubles, you have to consider two perspectives and work together as a team. My doubles partner and I work extremely well together, and we have developed a strong understanding of how to communicate and support one another. Trust, communication, and being in sync on the court are essential. Mistakes are inevitable in tennis, but in doubles, it is especially important to move forward together, avoid placing blame, and maintain a positive mentality.

Q: What team and individual goals have you established this year?

A: As a team, our goal is to win the AMCC conference championship. Individually, breaking the career singles victories record was a major accomplishment, so my focus now is on continuing to improve with every practice and match. At the end of the season, I want to know that I gave my best effort, learned as much as possible, and made the most of every opportunity. Our coach always emphasizes playing hard and having fun, and those are two principles our team carries with us throughout the season.

Q: You also briefly played basketball at Penn State Altoona. What were your takeaways from that experience?

A: I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to play basketball at Penn State Altoona. Had I not pursued basketball after high school, I think I would have always wondered what that experience might have been like. I loved being part of the team and made some of my closest friends through that experience. Playing basketball also helped me grow personally and become more resilient during my freshman year of college. Interestingly, my assistant basketball coach is also the tennis coach, and I likely would not have joined the tennis team if I had not played basketball and met him. Looking back, I can see how each experience led me to where I am today, and I truly believe everything happens for a reason.

Q: What led to your decision to attend Penn State Altoona?

A: I grew up in a family that has always been passionate about Penn State, so attending the University felt like a natural fit. I also valued the extensive alumni network and the opportunities that come with earning a Penn State degree. Ultimately, choosing Penn State Altoona came down to finding a campus where I felt at home. I loved the close-knit community, the smaller campus environment, and the opportunity to continue playing basketball.

Q: What is your major, and ideal future profession?

A: I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in business with concentrations in marketing and management, along with minors in entrepreneurship and human resources. I am particularly passionate about human resources within the healthcare industry. This past summer, I completed an internship in human resources at UPMC, and I recently accepted a casual human resources assistant position for my upcoming winter break. These experiences have further strengthened my interest in building a career where I can support employees, contribute to organizational success, and make a meaningful impact in healthcare.

Q: What has been your most challenging college course?

A: In terms of the amount of work and effort required, my most challenging course was a business statistics class I took during my freshman year. I entered college with math credits already completed, which meant I moved directly into a more advanced course. Numbers have never been my strongest subject, so the class pushed me outside my comfort zone. However, I learned a great deal and was proud of the grade I earned through my hard work. Looking back, I am grateful I took such a challenging course during my first semester because it helped establish the level of dedication and effort college would require.

Q: What was your fondest high school memory at Kiski Area?

A: I have several fond memories from my time at Kiski Area. I especially miss playing basketball at the high school level, and I loved being the lead in our senior-year musical. Chorus classes and our concerts were also highlights of my high school experience. Additionally, with homecoming having just taken place, I always find myself reminiscing about winning homecoming queen, participating in the pep rally, and sharing those unforgettable moments with some of my closest friends at the time.

Q: Which opponent did you consider Kiski Area's biggest rival in basketball?

A: During my time at Kiski Area, Plum and Franklin Regional were two of our biggest rivals. Both programs were consistently competitive, which made those matchups especially exciting. I also had several teammates from my AAU team who attended those schools, adding another level of competition and familiarity to the games.

Q: If you could play anyone, past or present, in tennis, who would you choose? What would be the score?

A: I would love the opportunity to play Coco Gauff. Realistically, the match would end in a quick 6-0, 6-0 loss for me, but getting to share the court with one of the best female players would be an incredible experience!

Q: Who is your celebrity dream date?

A: I would love to challenge Steph Curry to a 3-point shootout!

Q: What is your favorite social media app?

A: TikTok is my favorite social media app. I enjoy how entertaining and creative the content is, and I can easily spend more time on it than I intend to!

Q: If you woke up tomorrow with $1 million, what is the first thing you'd do?

A: My first priority would be investing at least $500,000 to build a strong financial foundation for the future, whether through savings or a Roth IRA. I would then use the remaining money to give back to my family and church, while setting aside some for traveling and experiencing new places. I would want to be intentional with the money by investing in my future while also supporting the people and communities that mean the most to me (: