Difference-maker, game-changer, x-factor.

Name the cliche for an impact player that can solely change the outcome of a match, and they all would be appropriate for Notre Dame Green Pond middle hitter Carly Campbell.

Campbell dominated from the second set on and helped the Crusaders down the Olympians in four games, 17-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-8, Thursday night in the semifinal round of the District 11 Class 2A semifinals.

Thorpe did come out hot, taking the opening game. The Olympians looked good on offense early with sophomore outside hitter Brooke Mitzen getting JT going. Mitzen had three kills and an ace as Thorpe got out to a 22-11 cushion.

“The girls came out in a nice fluid motion on offense to start the match and everybody played relaxed,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Chris Fallabel. “We were able to get out to a pretty sizeable lead early in the match, and then we were able to maintain that lead.

“Notre Dame was able to then battle back in the second and then in the third, we just had some things not go our way. I think we picked our spots well offensively in that first set and not so much then the rest of the way, but credit to Notre Dame; they made some nice adjustments, and they were able to keep the ball alive and then they were able to get the ball to their difference maker.”

Campbell, who had three kills and one ace in the first, was then unleashed in the second set where she came through with five kills and helped Notre Dame edge Thorpe 25-23 in what was a good battle throughout the frame.

In the third, the Crusaders took control of the momentum, getting out to a commanding 8-1 lead. During that stretch, Campbell had three kills and three blocks and then finished the set with three more kills to clinch the game three victory. Campbell was dominant in the third, finishing with eight kills and three blocks.

“Carly was absolutely on fire for us tonight, but also everyone else on the floor did their job and enabled her to have some really good opportunities,” said Notre Dame head coach Sarah Wukitch. “This was a total team effort. Everyone played their position correctly; everyone was getting the ball up and getting their serves in. You could tell our girls were ready to play.

“We also made a nice adjustment, where the girls just weren’t getting to that first hit in the first set to put a block on their ball, and we did a much better job of that from the second set on. Defensively, we really stepped it up, the girls were moving their feet and not giving them much at the net.”

The Crusaders kept building off the momentum they created in the third set, getting out to a 14-4 advantage in the fourth. Nicola Murabet and Alyssa Eilenberger were the catalysts for Notre Dame in the fourth as the Olympians were then outscored 11-4 the rest of the way.

SOLID SEASON ... Thorpe finished the season with a 17-4 record, and was able to advance to the semifinals in both the Schuylkill League playoffs and the District 11 2A playoffs.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ... Notre Dame will face Panther Valley at Lehighton on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the District 11 2A championship game.