CATASAUQUA — Jim Thorpe’s volleyball team is certainly skilled.

But the Olympians are also unquestionably scrappy.

There’s a toughness that took center stage in a thrilling four-set win over Northwestern in the Colonial League semifinals on Tuesday.

It was the same tenacity that was front and center Thursday night in the league final against unbeaten and unblemished Southern Lehigh.

Jim Thorpe pushed a powerful Spartans squad that had yet to drop a set all season, before falling 25-16, 21-25, 25-18, 25-15.

The Olympians brought the same effort and drive they’ve shown since the offseason, something that has helped the squad put together one of the best seasons in program history.

“I said to them, all I’m asking is for you to go out and do your best. You can’t do anything more than that,” said first-year Jim Thorpe head coach Stephanie Petrucci.

And they did.

After a first set that saw the second-seeded Olympians (16-4) stay within striking distance and close to within three at 19-16, momentum swung decisively in their favor on the first point of the second set when senior Brooke Mitzen delivered a kill.

Jim Thorpe led early at 8-4 and carried a 12-11 advantage before top seed Southern Lehigh (18-0) inched ahead, and eventually built a 21-17 lead.

Undaunted, the Olympians scored the final eight points to take the second set 25-21 — the first time a team had taken a set from the Spartans in a match this season — and even things at 1-1.

“That left us on a little bit of a high,” said Petrucci. “But I think they really fought hard the whole night. I have tremendous respect for (Southern Lehigh head coach) Don West and his dad, Don West Sr. Their girls played hard, and they bring it every time they play.

“But I think we brought it, too, and they were surprised that we brought it. We’re a small school, but we’re scrappy, and these girls really work hard.”

Southern Lehigh turned a 5-2 deficit into a 10-5 lead in the third set, and seemed poised to take control. But the Olympians battled back, and eventually tied it at 17-17 with a 7-2 run after trailing 15-10.

The Spartans responded, closing out the set on an 8-1 run to take it 25-18 and earn a 2-1 advantage in the match.

“We’re resilient, I knew that,” said West. “But at the beginning of the year, I knew how good Jim Thorpe was. They gave us a good challenge, first game of the year.

“I knew they had graduated some players, and they had a new coach, but they were really strong right away, and I knew they would be one of the teams we had the chance to see at the end, so that was actually kind of cool.”

West’s squad surged to an 18-6 lead in the fourth set. But again, Jim Thorpe had an answer, putting together a 7-2 run to close the gap to 20-13.

Alexis Hoyer responded with a kill for Southern Lehigh, and added another kill to make it 24-15 before serving out the set and the match to give the Spartans the title.

“I knew Brooke (Mitzen) was going to hit a lot of line, and I kept telling them, but we weren’t adjusting to it well,” West said. “We play three tournaments a year, and we were just at State College this past weekend, so we got some good competition; we lost in the final to Canon McMillan, who is a great team.

“We know we’re resilient, we know we’re going to fight back.”

And Petrucci can say the same for her squad, one that is eager to add more postseason hardware in what has already been a historic fall for the program.

“I will say that this is the first league anything that Jim Thorpe has ever seen for volleyball,” Petrucci beamed, clutching her medal in what is also the school’s first year in the league.

“They always seem to be able to pull together, no matter what’s going on in their lives, on or off the court, they always come together. And I think you saw that tonight. They were cohesive as a team. They definitely play for each other, they pick each other up when someone’s down. And that’s what makes me proud.” BATTLE TESTED ... Jim Thorpe has lost just four times this season, with three of those coming to Southern Lehigh. The Olympians’ other setback came to Northwestern, a team they beat 3-1 in the league semis Tuesday.

UP NEXT ... Both teams will compete in the Class 3A bracket of the upcoming District 11 tournament. The Spartans are currently third in the power ratings, while the Olympians are sixth. Ten teams will qualify.

LEADING THE WAY ... Mitzen finished with 16 kills and 20 digs for Jim Thorpe. Brianna Snisky had 15 digs and five kills. Kelsey Patton had nine digs and five kills. Maura Malaska put up 25 assists and five digs. Daniella Hernandez Sosa also had five digs. Hoyer had 15 kills and five digs for the Spartans. Natalie Pristas had 13 kills and five digs, and Abby Stankewicz finished with 11 kills and five digs. Mia Stanten had 10 digs, and Trinity Sky Hunte registered 21 assists and five digs.

Jim Thorpe 16 25 18 15

So. Lehigh 25 21 25 25

Stat leaders: Jim Thorpe - Brooke Mitzen 20 digs, 16 kills, Maura Malaska 25 assists, 5 digs, Brianna Snisky 15 digs, 5 kills; Southern Lehigh - Alexis Hoyer 15 kills, 5 digs, Natalie Pristas 13 kills, 5 digs, Trinity Sky Hunte 21 assists, 5 digs.