CATASAUQUA — Jim Thorpe junior Kelsey Patton was at a loss for words.

So was just about everyone else in attendance at Catasauqua High School for Tuesday’s Colonial League volleyball semifinal between the Olympians and Northwestern.

Both sides turned in a determined effort. But in the end, it was Jim Thorpe turning back Northwestern 25-14, 25-22, 13-25, 36-34 in an epic battle between two talented programs.

In their first season of competition in the Colonial League, the second-seeded Olympians punched their ticket to the final in dramatic fashion.

“The one thing that we’ve all kind of talked about was, ‘What are we going to do if we don’t go far in leagues?’” Patton said. “And we know we have districts, but in the previous years we’ve made it so far, even in our tournaments, we make it so far, and then the last game we can’t seem to get over the hump. And tonight, I’m just so proud of us. I have no words to describe how amazing we all did.”

The decisive fourth set was up in the air until the very end.

Jim Thorpe (16-3) led 24-19 in the fourth set before the third-seeded Tigers (12-9) rallied to not only tie it, but go ahead 25-24. Senior Brianna Snisky answered with a kill for the Olympians to kick off a run of incredible back-and-forth play that saw another nine ties and six lead changes before Jim Thorpe scored the final two points to secure the set and seal the win.

“I think it’s a great moment for Jim Thorpe volleyball,” said Snisky. “We have been in this position before, and we haven’t been able to get the outcome we wanted. So I think it was really good that we came out on top tonight.”

The incredible finale came after Northwestern clawed back into the match in the third set, one it never trailed before winning it 25-13, to cut its deficit in the match to 2-1.

“This was the first time we ever played in a Colonial League championship match,” said Tigers’ head coach Mike Maston. “Obviously the nerves got to us in that first set, but we kind of came back a little bit in the second set, got some points back at the end there, and then came out in the third and showed them what we had. I thought we played really well there.

“In the fourth set, they had us on the ropes at the end there, but the girls fought hard and got right back into it at the very end.”

Like the fourth set, Northwestern trailed 24-19 in the second but rallied to make it 24-22 before the Olympians closed it out.

The first set was tied 10-10 before Jim Thorpe put together a 9-1 run to take command.

Jim Thorpe’s largest lead in the fourth set was five points at 24-19. The Tigers erased it with two kills each by Siena Almonti and Daisy Stringer and an ace from Norah Silfies before Almonti delivered a block.

The Olympians never flinched, watching Northwestern take the lead at 25-24, 26-25, 28-27, 31-30, 32-31 and 33-32.

“It’s been a whole season of trust-building,” said first-year Jim Thorpe head coach Stephanie Petrucci. “I’m really proud of the way they came around. It was rocky in the beginning. We’ve had a lot of formidable opponents, and Mike’s (Maston) girls played really well. I have to give them props. They moved so well. They deserved to win in that third set. They outplayed us. And it was touch-and-go that last set; it could have been anybody’s game.

“But our girls really played hard, and things worked out in our favor. I hope they (Northwestern) make it far in districts, and we get to see them again.”

The Olympians, who are currently sixth in the 3A power ratings and have advanced to the district semis each of the last two years, will think about the next phase of the postseason when the time comes.

For now, they are locked in on Thursday’s final and the opportunity that awaits against top seed Southern Lehigh.

And savoring the moment from an unforgettable win on Tuesday.

“I think we have a chance. It’s going to be a tough game, but it’s going to be fun,” said Patton. “I think if we play our best game like we played tonight and really work hard, that we have a shot. Regardless of what the outcome ends up being, I’m really happy with how we played tonight. This was amazing.”

RUBBER MATCH ... Jim Thorpe and Northwestern split their regular season meetings, with the Tigers winning the last match 3-2 on Oct. 2. The Olympians swept the first meeting 3-0 on Sept. 9.

UP NEXT ... No. 1 seed Southern Lehigh swept fourth seed Notre Dame Green Pond 3-0 in the other semifinal Tuesday. The finals will be Thursday at Catasauqua at 6 p.m. The Spartans enter the match 17-0, and have swept each opponent this season. Southern Lehigh and Northwestern are the only teams to defeat Jim Thorpe this season. The Tigers appear to be headed to a pigtail match in the District 11 Class 3A bracket against Blue Mountain Monday.

ADDING THEM UP ... Jim Thorpe junior Maura Malaska was tremendous in dishing out 44 assists on a remarkable 145 ball handling attempts. Brooke Mitzen fired 26 kills, while Patton finished with 24 digs for the Olympians. Norah Silfies led the Tigers with 19 kills, while Alexa George had 22 digs and Shannon Green finished with 35 assists.

Northwestern 14 22 25 34

Jim Thorpe 25 25 13 36

Stat leaders: Northwestern - Norah Silfies 19 kills, Alexa George 22 digs, Shannon Green 35 assists; Jim Thorpe - Brooke Mitzen 26 kills, 14 digs, 2 assists, Brianna Snisky 12 kills, 8 digs, 4 blocks, 3 aces, Kelsey Patton 24 digs, 8 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks, Maura Malaska 44 assists, 10 digs, Remi Gorski 5 aces.