Lincoln Christian opens the season on Monday, as the Bulldogs look to continue one of the more impressive streaks in any sport in the state this fall.

The Bulldogs have made the state tournament in all 17 years of the program's existence and will look to make it 18 in October, as head coach Deidra Rader and Lincoln open the season Monday at home vs. Catoosa.

 "It's just always so fun for me to see how the girls have worked in the off-season and how the team is gonna shape up for those varsity positions," said Rader.

Lincoln was 19-18 last fall and will be led by returning junior Niya Willoby and seniors Harlow Brown and Katelyn Brett. 

"Harlow Brown, Niya Willoby and Katelyn Brett are my three returning starters," said Rader. "Senior setter Aubrey Feeley will be stepping in to fill some big shoes."

Willoby was a Class 4A State Tournament All-Tournament team selection after her strong performance at as a sophomore.

She finished last year with 131 kills and 181 digs for the Bulldogs. She was also second on the team with 35 blocks and had 38 aces, as well.

Wiloby was also named second-team all conference by the Pinnacle Conference.

Brown had a team-high 70 aces last season as a junior. She also had 207 kills, 111 digs, 25 blocks and 18 assists.

Brett had 94 digs last year and added 24 aces, as well.

Rader also expects some younger players to step up on the outside at the hitter spot, where the preseason has shown potential for the group against some tough competition.

"We have some young girls that are gonna be helping us fill those last hitting positions," said Rader. "We have had three varsity scrimmages in the preseason."

"They have helped us really see how girls are able to compete against some high-level teams as well as the chemistry that we can expect to see shaping up on the court."

Lincoln has played in Class 4A in recent years but will be moving down to Class 3A this year. That will provide a different landscape for Rader and her bunch, one that she was somewhat surprised at the end result.

"I thought the reclassification was really going to affect us from a standpoint of there being a lot of private schools that weren't going to make the state tournament for the first time in a long time since so many of our ADMs are similar enough that we'd all be 3A," said Rader. 

Class 4A looks to have absorbed more of the traditional powers with the stiffer competition for Lincoln coming from the west side of the state.

"It looks as though quite a few perennial powerhouses are actually in 4A (Victory, Metro and Holland Hall) and we will remain in 3A with Cascia Hall, Rejoice and Regent on the east side," said Rader. "Community Christian, Casady, Southwest Covenant and Crossings Christian are going to be some of our biggest competitors on the west side in 3A."

Regardless of who is joining Lincoln in Class 3A, Rader is confident in her bunch to continue to rise to the occasion, just as they have during her tenure, which includes a 249-125 record, 10 state tournament appearances and four state titles.

"I know our program is great at regenerating so I fully planned to be in the top eight again, but now I especially believe that because of the new ADMs that have come out."

As always, the senior group will play a huge role in leading the Bulldogs this fall, as the class of 11 has already started to establish the standard in their final season at Lincoln.

"We have 11 seniors leading our program this year, and they have already set the bar of being servant leaders, and truly just showing up with huge energy, intensity and love for one another," said Rader. "They pull their upperclassman up alongside them and honor them and show them the ropes."

Lincoln will have an early tournament in Coweta that will see the Bulldogs face some larger schools before returning home to host the annual Bulldog Showdown, which always includes a stacked field.

"We kick off the season heading to the Coweta Tournament to play some 4A and 5A teams and then the following week we host the Bulldog Showdown where we'll get to see Metro, Cascia, Oklahoma Christian, Bishop McGuinness and Bartlesville," said Rader.

The Bulldogs will know early what their strengths are, as well as opportunities for growth that can help them when the calendar turns to October and they look to punch another ticket to the state tournament.

"We know these are two great tournaments to kind of gauge and measure what we need to be focusing on to have a successful postseason."