After splitting their two regular season matches against last year’s Colonial League runner-up, Notre Dame (Green Pond), Northwestern Lehigh faced the queens of the Colonial League court when they took on Southern Lehigh on Monday night. The Tigers’ Shannon Green had 45 assists and 21 digs, but it was not enough as the Tigers fell to the Spartans 3-1.

The league has just seven teams, so the playoffs consist simply of a playoff between the top two teams in the regular season. With the win, the Spartans wrapped up one spot in the playoffs and even with the loss, Northwestern Lehigh is in line to qualify for the finals. The Tigers are 8-2 in the league and third place Notre Dame Green Pond is 7-3.

If Northwestern beats Catasauqua (3-8) in its final regular season game, the Tigers will clinch the final playoff spot. Should they lose and Notre Dame beats Palmerton (0-11), the two teams would finish the regular season tied in the standings and with both having won one game against each other in the season series. If that scenario plays out, the deciding factor would be the team’s Colonial League Power Ranking, which currently favors the Crusaders.

In the loss to the Spartans, Norah Silfies had 21 kills and five blocks, while Kylie Nagle had 39 digs and three aces. Last week, the Tigers picked up a straight set win over Saucon Valley with 36 assists and two kills from Green, 19 digs and two aces from Nagle, and Leah Nagle had four kills and three aces for Northwestern Lehigh in the win.

While they fight for a playoff spot in the league, Northwestern has clinched a spot in the District 11 playoffs with a 11-7 overall record.