CATASAUQUA — The wait was worth it.

After years of building — and one season removed from a heartbreaking marathon loss in the same round — Northwestern finally broke through Tuesday night.

The second-seeded Tigers earned the program’s first-ever trip to the Colonial League championship match, sweeping third-seeded Saucon Valley 25-17, 25-14, 27-25 in the semifinals at Catasauqua.

“It’s an accomplishment because any time you make the championship, that’s special,” said Northwestern coach Mike Maston. “Our school’s never played for it before. For the girls, it means a lot.”

It was a moment that felt long overdue for a team that has been steadily climbing. A year ago, the Tigers qualified for the league tournament before falling to Jim Thorpe in an epic four-set match — one that ended 36-34 in the final set after trailing 2-0 in the match. That loss stayed with them. Many of the same players who walked off the court that night returned Tuesday with something to prove.

Northwestern came out firing, racing to an 8-1 lead in the opening set behind balanced hitting from Leah Nagle and Daisy Stringer, and sharp setting from Kayla Schaffer. The Tigers extended their advantage to 23-12 before a late Saucon rally trimmed the margin, but a strong finish ended it at 25-17 and set the tone for the night.

The second set followed a similar pattern. Schaffer’s serves kept Saucon off balance, and the Tigers’ defense repeatedly turned digs into points. Northwestern built a 20-6 advantage before the Panthers again showed some fight, but the early cushion was too much to overcome as the Tigers pulled away 25-14 to move within a set of the program’s first championship appearance.

The third set was anything but routine. Saucon, which Northwestern had swept twice in the regular season — in the Aug. 25 opener and again on Sept. 22 — wasn’t about to go quietly. The Panthers adjusted their attack and found rhythm, keeping the score tight throughout while holding slim leads, including at 17-15. That’s when Maston called a timeout, and the moment proved crucial. The Tigers regrouped and immediately went on a 3-0 run to surge ahead 18-17, regaining momentum as the set tightened down the stretch.

Even after Saucon moved back in front 23-21, Northwestern refused to fold. A kill from Nagle tied it 23-23, and after Saucon tied it again at 24-24, Stringer delivered a clutch swing to make it 25-24. With the score tied once more at 25-25, Nagle hammered another kill to push Northwestern in front 26-25. The match ended on a veteran play from Stringer, who alertly watched the next ball sail and drop beyond the line to seal the sweep.

“We were down a little bit, so we needed to get our energy up,” said Nagle. “Getting our energy up and staying aggressive helped us get ahead. We wanted this after last year. We lost to Jim Thorpe in that 36-34 set, and that gave us even more reason to bring it this year.”

Maston said his team’s ability to stay composed under pressure was a reflection of its maturity and leadership.

“The girls fought really hard,” he said. “Saucon didn’t want to give up, and each point at the end was back and forth. Having seniors like Leah step in and calm everyone down, saying ‘next ball,’ that’s huge. You’ve got to get to 25 and win by two. It’s never over.”

That mindset has carried Northwestern through the latter part of its season. After some midyear bumps, the Tigers won their final five matches of the regular season, finding cohesion and confidence at just the right time.

“We’ve been working hard in practice and building our connections,” said Nagle. “We really play well together now and trust each other.”

For Stringer, a junior, Tuesday’s finish reflected the team’s growth.

“We learned perseverance today,” she said. “It was really nerve-wracking in that third set, but we just kept fighting. Winning a match like that builds our morale even more. We’ve been communicating better, trusting one another, and it really shows on the court.”

The Tigers’ consistency — and their ability to close — impressed their coach.

“It’s good for the seniors, but also for the underclassmen who get to experience this now,” Maston said. “We’ve got sophomores in key roles – my setter (Schaffer) and Lacey (Clymer) on the back row – and now they’ve been in this kind of environment. They’ll have a chance to be back here again.”

MOVING ON ... Northwestern will face top-seeded Southern Lehigh in Thursday’s championship at 6 p.m. at Catasauqua — another familiar opponent. The Spartans defeated the Tigers 3-1 on Aug. 28, and 3-0 on Sept. 25.

“It’s Southern,” Maston said with a smile. “They’ve gotten us twice, but our girls know we’re right there with them. We’re going to bring that same fight on Thursday.”

Northwestern 3, Saucon Valley 0

Saucon Valley 17 14 25

Northwestern 25 25 27

Northwestern leaders: Daisy Stringer 13 kills, 14 digs; Kayla Schaffer 27 assists, 14 digs, 3 aces; Leah Nagle 12 kills, 15 digs, 2 aces.

Records: Saucon Valley (11-7); Northwestern (15-6).