By Andy Walter

DOVER — Downstate girls’ volleyball teams have proven themselves on the court this fall.

But apparently they still have some work to do off it.

Despite the fact that the top two seeds in the state tournament are from Kent and Sussex County, the DIAA has decided not to move Tuesday’s state quarterfinals from New Castle County.

On Sunday, the committee said it was moving two of the four matches to Smyrna.

On Monday, however, the DIAA announced that it was sticking with its original sites.

That means top-seeded Smyrna will face No. 9 Tower Hill at St. Mark’s while No. 2 Delmarva Christian will take on No. 7 Caesar Rodney at St. Elizabeth. Both matches are slated for 6 p.m.

For Delmarva Christian, that means a round trip of at least 170 miles on a weekday night.

“The decision to use Smyrna and St. Mark’s as host sites was made with the thoughts and interests of student athletes in mind,” DIAA executive director Donna Polk is quoted in the press release. “We were attempting to be accommodating and mindful of teams from the southern part of the state travelling north and playing late on a school night.

“Upon the decision and change, the traditional neutral host-site location was lost — we felt it was important to restore that tradition for all participating programs. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause participating schools and their programs — but we are looking forward to great quarterfinal volleyball.”

Defending state champion St. Mark’s has hosted the state semifinals in four of the last five seasons despite having its team still playing.

This is the first time a downstate team has earned the No. 1 seed in the state tournament. Smyrna beat St. Mark’s during the regular season to snap the Spartans’ 42-match winning streak.

St. Mark’s is the No. 3 seed this year and will play No. 6 Newark Charter on Tuesday at St. Elizabeth at 7:30 p.m.

But St. Mark's  will still host the semifinals if it advances, according to Department of Education spokesperson Allison May.  According to May, the DIAA's neutral-site policy doesn't apply to the semfinals.

"I am definitely disappointed in the decision to move the game back to Wilmington," said Delmarva Christian athletic director Keith Stonebraker.  "It is hard on our team, but it also creates difficulties for our students, parents and fans to be there to support our girls.  It makes too much sense to have a downstate location with three downstate teams still alive." 

Smyrna athletic director Bill Shultz, whose daughter Mia plays for the Eagles, said he appreciated Polk at least considering the matter.

"Our girls will be ready to play no matter where it is," he said.

St. Mark's coach Nancy Griskowitz is the chairperson of the DIAA volleyball committee.

Stonebraker, along with others, is interested to know why DIAA neutral-site policy doesn't apply to the semifinals.

"If the tradition of neutral host sites is really important, the winner of our game with CR won't be sent to play them in their home gym," he said.

The state championship is scheduled to be held at the Carpenter Center in Newark on Monday.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 302-741-8227 or walter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.