Twice this season, Lehighton and Saucon Valley have pushed each other to five sets.

And twice, the Indians have found a way to come out on top.

Thursday night’s rematch featured another back-and-forth battle, highlighted by a marathon third set that went well beyond the usual 25 points.

After surviving that 32-30 thriller, Lehighton overcame a fourth-set loss and took control early in the decisive fifth to secure a 3-2 Colonial League volleyball victory over the Panthers.

The Indians won by scores of 25-21, 16-25, 32-30, 21-25 and 15-11, improving to 11-7 overall and 10-6 in league play.

The victory also carried significance in the Colonial League standings. Both teams entered Thursday at 9-6 in the league, with Saucon Valley listed fourth and Lehighton fifth. The win moved the Indians ahead of the Panthers, who dropped to 9-7 in league play.

It also completed a season sweep for Lehighton, which defeated Saucon Valley in five sets on Sept. 14.

“We beat them in five the last time. I was hoping we could do it quicker this time,” Lehighton head coach Marsha Thomas said. “Obviously, we’re well-matched. They play well. We play well.”

Thursday’s third set provided the clearest example.

Lehighton built a 17-12 advantage, before Saucon Valley rallied to tie the score at 17. The Panthers eventually moved ahead and held a 24-22 lead, putting themselves within one point of taking a 2-1 advantage in the match.

But the Indians refused to let the set slip away.

Lehighton fought back to tie the score at 24, beginning an extended stretch in which neither team could put the other away.

Saucon Valley repeatedly moved ahead by a point, only for Lehighton to answer. The teams battled through ties at 26, 27, 28 and 29 before the Indians finally moved in front 30-29.

The Panthers responded once more to make it 30-30, but Lehighton claimed the next two points to finish off the 32-30 victory and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The third-set win was especially important after Saucon Valley had controlled much of the second set.

Lehighton held an early 8-6 advantage in that set, but the Panthers responded with a lengthy run. Saucon Valley moved ahead 15-9, extended its lead to 19-11 and eventually pulled away for a 25-16 victory.

The Indians had opened the match with a comeback of their own.

Saucon Valley jumped ahead 8-3 in the first set behind a serving run from Karinhayza De La Rosa, but Lehighton rallied to take an 11-10 lead. The Indians maintained their momentum and claimed the opener 25-21.

After dropping the marathon third set, the Panthers again responded.

Saucon Valley raced to a 9-0 advantage in the fourth set, forcing Lehighton to play from behind throughout the frame.

The Indians gradually cut into the deficit, but the Panthers maintained control and closed out a 25-21 victory to force a fifth set.

This time, Lehighton made sure it was the team playing from ahead.

The Indians opened a 6-3 lead in the deciding set and quickly stretched the margin to 9-3. A block pushed the advantage to 10-3, giving Lehighton a commanding cushion in the race to 15.

Saucon Valley wasn’t finished, however.

The Panthers gradually chipped away at the deficit, pulling within 11-8 and eventually 14-11.

But Lehighton held on, closing out the 15-11 victory to complete the season sweep.

Throughout the match, several Indians contributed important plays.

Junior Sophia Serfass helped Lehighton overcome its early deficit in the first set and delivered a kill early in the second. Allison Solt came through with multiple blocks, while senior Alexis Holben recorded an ace late in the deciding set.

Thomas also pointed to the contributions of younger players who had not appeared in the teams’ first meeting.

“I played some underclassmen tonight that I didn’t play in the first match,” Thomas said. “And they really stepped up for us.”

For Thomas, that depth has become one of the defining qualities of her team.

“I think what I like the most about my team tonight and any night is they play as a team,” she said. “We don’t have one superstar. Everybody can produce. Everybody does a great job.

“Everybody brings something to the table, and I think the best part about it is that the entire team gets to be a part of it.”

UP NEXT ... Lehighton will look to carry its momentum into Monday’s road match against Northwestern, which entered Thursday second in the Colonial League standings at 13-2. The Tigers swept the Indians 3-0 in their first meeting Sept. 16. Saucon Valley will return home to face Palmerton on Tuesday.

Lehighton 3, Saucon Valley 2

Saucon Valley 21 25 30 25 11

Lehighton 25 16 32 21 15

Statistics: Lehighton - Breanna Demage 41 assists; Julianna Lucykanish 18 kills, 23 digs; Allison Solt 16 kills, 8 blocks; Aleea Yeakel 34 digs; Alexis Holben 13 digs; Ava Serfass 10 kills.

Records: Lehighton (11-7; 10-6 CL); Saucon Valley (9-7; 9-7).