DOVER – Five downstate volleyball teams have made the field for the DIAA volleyball state tournament, which was announced on Sunday.
The tourney, which expanded to 24 squads this year, begins on Thursday with the eight top seeds earning first-round byes. The second round will be played on Saturday.
Downstate teams earning first-round byes were seventh-seeded Smyrna (13-2) and No. 8 Polytech (10-5).
Smyrna will play on Saturday at Brandywine at 7 p.m. against the winner of the first-round match between No. 10 St. Mark’s (8-7) and No. 23 Red Lion Christian (6-9). Polytech will play on Saturday at McKean at 7 p.m. against the winner of the match between No. 9 Cape Henlopen and No. 24 Conrad.
The Vikings (13-2) will host the Redskins (8-7) on Thursday at 6 p.m. In the second game on Thursday at Cape, No. 16 Delmar (10-5) will take on No. 17 Appoquinimink (10-5) at 7 p.m.
The other downstate squad to make the tournament is No. 13 St. Thomas More (11-4), which opens the tourney on Thursday against No. 20 Brandywine (12-3). That match will be played at Tower Hill at 6 p.m.
Northern Division champion Smyrna hosts South winner Delmar on Monday in the Henlopen Conference championship match at 7 p.m.