Blair Oaks has had School of the Osage's number this season.
But the No. 3 Lady Falcons weren't overlooking the No. 6 Lady Indians entering postseason play.
"You have to think of their strengths, not their weaknesses," Blair Oaks sophomore Allison Maxwell said after the Lady Falcons rolled to a 25-12, 25-12 win Monday against Osage in the opening round of the Class 3 District 12 Tournament at Rackers Fieldhouse.
"You have to focus on their strengths, because if you focus on their weaknesses then you'll play too cocky," Maxwell said. "Whenever you do that, you play lazy."
Maxwell finished with seven kills, four blocks and three aces, while Sadie Turner and Lizzie Rosslan combined for 15 assists and six aces to lead Blair Oaks (27-7-3).
"Our serves and passes were on," Rosslan said. "I think communication was key, and just knowing where to place the ball and setting up the hitters."
The Lady Falcons entered Monday's game with two wins this season against Osage. Blair Oaks beat the Lady Indians 25-10, 25-17 in the second match of the season and claimed a 25-13, 25-11 win Oct. 11 in the Versailles Invitational.
"We've seen what some of the players can do," Blair Oaks head coach Joy Northweather said. "We were aware of the fact that they were going to pick some balls up, and we were going to have to be aggressive. When we did that, we were successful."
The Lady Falcons will now take on No. 2 California (17-11-11) at 6:15 p.m. today in a semifinal match.
"We just have to take the same approach that we took (Monday) - not go in cocky," Maxwell said. "Be confident, but not overconfident."
Blair Oaks claimed a 25-19, 15-25, 25-21 win against the Lady Pintos on Oct. 11 en route to a first-place finish at the Versailles Invitational. California also has a win against the Lady Falcons, edging Blair Oaks in two sets Sept. 11.
"We're going to have to come in ready to play," Northweather said. "I think right now, if the girls play with the attitude and the comfort level that we had (Monday) - we're hoping for the same result the last time we met California."
Blair Oaks jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first against the Lady Indians (6-18-3), and that set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Osage scored three straight points - its biggest run of the night - while cutting its deficit to 15-9, but the Lady Falcons responded with 9-3 run to put the Lady Indians away in Game 1.
"Volleyball is a game where if you go up and get some big swings, it kind of gets in the other team's head," Northweather said. "It's a mental game. You have to stay focused and try and go after one point at a time."
Osage trailed 7-5 to open up the second set, but Blair Oaks went on an 8-0 run, compiling six kills and one block during that stretch, and the Lady Falcons were able to cruise from there.
"The girls were mentally ready to go," Northweather said. "They were focused and they were feeling successful. When you're feeling successful, it gives you even more confidence."
The Lady Falcons have some momentum on their side coming into tonight's matchup against California, going 8-0-1 in their last last nine games.
"It's good to have that first win in our pocket," Rosslan said. "Now, we just want to come out strong (tonight). We'll just come out with our heads held high."