After a 2024 season with tons of progress, the Lincoln girls tennis team is looking to reach even new heights this spring.

With almost the whole team back from last year's group that competed well at regionals, head coach Ty Barrett is excited about what is possible this year.

"We return almost our whole team from last year's regional lineup, with only having one senior starter last season, but she gets to be replaced by someone who filled in and played a lot of varsity singles for us last year," he said. 

The Bulldogs return much experience, led by seniors Francesca Rollandini and Nina Ross.

Both are two-time state qualifiers and former state placers and will be important on-and-off the court this spring.

"I am so proud of these girls and how they've worked leading up to this season," said Barrett. "Sometimes it's easy to let being a senior kick in and not have the greatest motivation, but I've seen more dedication and energy out of these two than I have before. They've stepped up and are primed for great seasons and a return trip to OKC."

Fellow senior Avarie Castagna and junior Karlie Jones should feature a potent duo in doubles for Lincoln, while junior Grace Wheeler and sophomore Lilly Brisco should have breakout seasons in singles.

"Avarie and Karlie should be able to team up to be a dynamic duo that could push for the school record in single-season wins as they develop," Barrett said. "Grace and Lilly will bring some great talent to our singles lineup, as they both have had some big wins in their career thus far."

Barrett will also have the luxury of lots of depth, as he feels that each position is strong on the depth chart.

"We have a lot of depth on this team, where there really isn't much drop off from one position to the next," he said. 

Junior Baylee Postier, as well as sophomores Addi Law and Olivia Nelson each should show big improvements from a year ago for Barrett and Lincoln.

"Baylee has improved a ton this past year," he said. "Addi and Olivia have also risen to the brink of varsity and will fill-in during various spots throughout the season.

Another sophomore, Kara Brown, is back with the program after an injury kept her out last season.

"She brings a tremendous attitude, energy and talent that has quickly got her moving up our team ladder," Barrett said.

One thing that gives Barrett optimism about this group is the growth he has seen from the program's culture, one that breeds competition and teamwork.

"We are starting to develop a great culture, having some real competition across the entire team," he said. "One of the things that I love about our girls team and our guys team too is that we have a lot of depth. Even though we only lost one starter from last year's team, our returners have had to really step up because we have a great group of hard-working, talented younger girls that are challenging them and pushing them to be better."

Barrett thinks that could be one of the differences in how well represented Lincoln is when the calendar turns to May.

"It's obviously a ways down the road, but we should have a chance to get a whole bunch of girls qualified in May," he said. 

Barrett isn't exactly sure what his lineups will look like, but he knows he will have options.

And he will use the early part of the season to figure that out.

"The girls are kind of in the same spot as the guys, but to another level really," he said. "We are going to play a lot of different girls in a lot of different lineups before spring break, so as we get into the real meat of our season, we can have a group that we know a lot about."

It will be an ever-changing environment during the first couple of weeks, but that dynamic will also allow his girls to show the improvements they have made.

"We're probably gonna have played nine or 10 different girls in our six-person line-up by the time we get through the first couple weeks," he said. "Everyone is gonna get a shot to show the growth I've seen in practice be realized in some tough matches."

The girls are ready to get back to the postseason, where they feel like they left opportunities out there last spring.

"Our goals are to qualify the whole team," Barrett said. "Last year we had a disappointing regionals and state, and we have a group that is ready and has worked to bounce back from that."

The work the team and program has done off the court is only going to give the girls a better chance at taking that next step, something Barrett has seen his group already take hold of.

"The pillars I like to talk about in our program are 'Be a Good Person' (someone everyone else wants to be around, a good teammate, have great energy and enthusiasm), 'Make Good Decisions' (Whether that be in the court, in the classroom, your walk with Christ, or anywhere in daily life), and 'Have More Fun Working Harder than Anyone Else.'"

"If this group continues to come together, rally and lift each other up the way we have this year, we should have no reason not to reach our goals. We have a group with a lot of experience, athleticism, talent, and resilience and I'm ready for them to get to showcase that this season."

The girls will open the season in the CZ1 tournament at Claremore on Saturday, March 1.

Lincoln will also take part in the Rother Cup in Oklahoma City on March 4. The Bulldogs final action before spring break comes on March 8 at the CZ2 tournament in Claremore.