The question of whether anybody in District 12-5A has a shot at the defending district champions from A&M Consolidated could be answered early.

A clear favorite to repeat as league champions, the 12th-ranked Lady Tigers will begin 12-5A play Friday with a road match against Copperas Cove, the team that might be considered the biggest threat to Consol.

Consol (17-7) will take on the Lady Dawgs (20-5) at 5:30 p.m.

The opening night of district play will see the Bryan girls (9-11) playing host to Harker Heights (7-9) at 5:30 p.m. at Viking Gym. The Lady Vikings are aiming for a return trip to the state playoffs despite having three freshmen in the starting lineup.

Loaded with experience and firepower, Consol will carry the favorite role into district play after navigating a difficult nondistrict schedule. The Lady Tigers have five starters back from the 2008 team that reached the regional semifinals for the first time at the Class 5A level and finished the season 34-8.

Two of Consol's losses this season were against Top 10 teams Amarillo and Leander.

"We're pretty much right on target," Consol coach Cydryce McMillian said. "We've laid the foundation, although we've had some bumps here and there. Now we're ready. It's just a matter of executing at a higher level, practicing at a higher level, expecting a little more crispness. That's what we want to do during district."

Consol's balanced lineup includes senior libero Kelsey Kinley, the 12-5A defensive player of the year last season, and junior middle blocker Erika Arthur, who was the district newcomer of the year in 2008. The Lady Tigers have first-team all-district picks in outside hitter Shelby Dickson and middle blocker Karla Gilbert.

A varied attack helped the Lady Tigers roar through district play at 14-0 last season.

"I know there's a lot of people who are aiming to knock us off," McMillian said. "Some of those teams are going to have their best matches against us, basically because they have nothing to lose. We have to be on. We don't have any time to half-step."

Copperas Cove won its first 15 matches to climb to sixth in the Texas Girls Coaches Association rankings, but the Lady Dawgs have slipped out of the poll after splitting their last 10. Cove is led by 6-foot middle blocker Michelle Blount.

"We're excited about opening up over there," McMillian said. "It's a long bus ride, so we have some time to do some homework and get our minds straight. I know we're going to be ready to go to battle, especially after losing to Tomball on Tuesday. Our girls are hungry."

Bryan wants to taste the state playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons. The Lady Vikings registered their first postseason win last year and have a returning all-district pick in Tiffany Regmund, but Bryan will enter league play riding an unusual youth movement.

The Lady Vikings are starting three freshmen -- outside hitter Reagan Boenker, middle blocker Brittney Jones and right side hitter/middle blocker Chandler Johnson. Regmund, Jones and Johnson, a trio of 6-footers, give Bryan size at the net.

"When you look at the youth and inexperience we have, I realize why we don't get it done sometimes," Bryan coach Caroline Simpson said. "The other night at Huntsville, they announced our starting lineup and all three freshmen were back-to-back-to-back. It's kind of funny to hear something like that. It's nice to hear for the future, but at the same time you realize why things are the way they are.

"When you have a young team like this, there can't be any letting up. You can't coast. We don't have the experience to be able to do that."

Simpson said she is sure Bryan will earn one of the league's four playoff bids, but just making the postseason won't be enough for the Lady Vikings.

"We got over a major hurdle last year by winning the playoff match," Simpson said. "We have some seniors back who played a big part in that, and I think their expectations are going to be the same. We're not just satisfied with getting in, but we want to go at least a few rounds into the playoffs."

Last season, the Lady Vikings tied Cove and Belton for second place in the district with 10-4 records. Belton, traditionally a playoff team, will bring a 6-18 record into Friday's league opener against Temple. The Tem-Cats are expected to contend for a playoff bid after posting a 13-10 mark going into league play.