On Monday, the Green Devils faced 12th-rated Humboldt, a team they played once at a tournament during the regular season, and Osage made short work of the Wildcats that day.

Still, Humboldt came in with a 30-4 mark on the season and the determination to show Osage that it was a far better team than when the two played previously.

The Wildcats gave the Green Devils all it could handle, but ultimately the Osage experience took control in a 3-0 win that gave the Green Devils consecutive state trip No. 3, 25-21, 25-20 and 25-15.

“I think our kids handled the pressure well,” Osage coach Andie Olson said. “This is what we planned to do when these kids were little.”

Humboldt came out strong and took a 13-8 lead in the first set.

The Wildcats still held a 17-16 advantage before Osage scored eight of the next 11 points to pull away.

Sydney Midlang, one of the Green Devils' seniors who has played more of an attacking role this season from her middle hitter spot, and sophomore outside hitter Dani Johnson took control down the stretch with four total kills to spark the Osage run.

Set two was a back-and-forth affair that saw the Green Devils make a number of uncharacteristic unforced errors.

“We made some changes in our matchups in the middle of the second set,” Olson said. “That really paide off.”

Whatever changes Olson made consistently put Midlang in position in to make solid attacks, and she came through as the Green Devils again pulled away late.

Set three was never close. Johnson got hot early, and the Wildcats finally wilted against the Green Devils' front line.

Osage (29-6) advances to the state tournament where it will enter as the fifth seed.

“We know it is going to be hard,” Johnson said. “But we are hoping to get to that championship.”

The Green Devils will play No. 4 Davenport Assumption (31-5) at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 7.

Photos: Osage vs. Humboldt, sub-state volleyball