Thursday’s Colonial League matchup between two exceptional volleyball squads in Jim Thorpe and Lehighton produced an electric, playoff-type atmosphere.

And the play on the hardwood lived up to the raucous environment, as the Olympians did just enough to outlast the Indians in five sets, winning three games to two, 25-23, 20-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-10.

“We talked quick as we got together before the fifth set and we said, ‘Now is the time to do it,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Sydney Clouser. “We had the serve, and the girls just came together and played really well and kept the serve for a big run. That got us out to a big lead that we were able to finish off to win the game.”

Before the deciding fifth set, both of the clubs battled to a 2-2 tie. Thorpe jumped out to a 1-0 lead after a 25-23 set one win. Lehighton led for most of the set, getting out to an 11-6 advantage. But Thorpe stormed back, with Brianna Snisky getting her offense going, eventually knotting the set at 18-18, and then taking the lead 20-18 to steal momentum. A Brooke Mitzen kill to end the frame put JT out in front.

The Tribe had an answer, as they again got out to an 11-6 lead. But this time, the Indians were able to hold the momentum, extending the advantage later in the set to 20-13.

Lorah Thomas was big for Lehighton in the second, coming through with five kills and one block.

After a 25-18 dominant third set victory, it looked like Thorpe might pull away. Snisky, Mitzen and Kelsey Patton got the JT offense going early on in the set as the Olympians pulled away, ending the frame with a Patton kill and ace.

But as they did throughout the match, the Indians would not go away.

Two kills and an ace early on from Makenna Snyder gave Lehighton a spark, as the two teams continued to battle back and forth. The Tribe finally gained some separation late in the set after aces from both Autumn Clewell and Thomas.

A kill from Jocelynn Kuhn gave the Indians the 25-20 fourth-set win to push the match to the fifth-set decider.

“At times tonight, when we ran our offense, I felt like they didn’t have an answer,” said Lehighton head coach Lauren Nietz. “But they have some girls that can serve very well, especially Snisky, and also at times our serve-receive was out of system because of that. You can’t run your offense if you don’t get the ball in play off the serve.

“But this team knows how to fight. These girls play together, and they play for each other. We’re hoping we get another opportunity against them down the road, because I feel like we’re getting better each time we go out there.”

Mitzen and Snisky took over the match for Thorpe in the fifth set. After a kill from Mara Levins got Thorpe started, Mitzen rattled off three straight kills to make it a 5-0 JT lead. An ace from Snisky, and a kill from Snisky mixed in with a few Lehighton errors, helped the Olympians get out to a commanding 10-1 advantage.

The Indians tried to come back, closing in late, but a Snisky kill in the middle finished things off, 15-10.

“The girls really wanted this one,” said Clouser. “They work hard, and they are really dedicated. In that last set, I thought they stepped it up with their communication. That’s something we have been preaching, and you could see they really communicated well during that last set.

“Snisky and Mitzen are our two best hitters, and they both played amazingly tonight. It was a great team win. But both of those girls just know the game of volleyball, and they know how to do their job out there, and they came through big for us.”

THORPE STAT LINE … Snisky finished with 16 kills and five aces, as well as 11 service points. Mitzen added 15 kills and 22 digs. Kelsey Patton also added 10 kills. Setter Maura Malaska came through with 45 assists.

TRIBE STATS … Snyder led the way for Lehighton with 12 kills, while Thomas had 11 kills, eight blocks and six aces. Lyla Kershner added 18 digs, while setter Autumn Clewell added 32 assists.

WHERE THEY STAND … Thorpe improves to 10-2, and has already qualified for the postseason in District 11 3A. Lehighton sits at 9-5.