private @Nullable AvlNode<E> firstNode() {
    AvlNode<E> root = rootReference.get();
    if (root == null) {
      return null;
    }
    AvlNode<E> node;
    if (range.hasLowerBound()) {
      // The cast is safe because of the hasLowerBound check.
      E endpoint = uncheckedCastNullableTToT(range.getLowerEndpoint());
      node = root.ceiling(comparator(), endpoint);
      if (node == null) {
        return null;
      }

  private @Nullable AvlNode<E> firstNode() {
    AvlNode<E> root = rootReference.get();
    if (root == null) {
      return null;
    }
    AvlNode<E> node;
    if (range.hasLowerBound()) {
      // The cast is safe because of the hasLowerBound check.
      E endpoint = uncheckedCastNullableTToT(range.getLowerEndpoint());
      node = root.ceiling(comparator(), endpoint);
      if (node == null) {
        return null;
      }