DOVER – Smyrna High earned the No. 7 seed, leading a group of eight downstate teams that made the 24-team field for the DIAA volleyball state tournament.

The tourney starts on Thursday night with eight first-round matches. The top eight seeds earn first-round byes, opening the tournament with games on Saturday.

Thursday’s opening-round contests will be played as doubleheaders, with the first games starting at 6 p.m. and the second ones to follow.

At Caesar Rodney, No. 21 Delmarva Christian takes on No. 12 Wilmington Christian at 6 p.m. with No. 16 CR facing No. 17 Sussex Tech in the nightcap. At St. Thomas More, No. 14 Cape Henlopen squares off with No. 19 Appoquinimink at 6 p.m. before No. 11 St. Thomas More hosts No. 22 Delmar at 7 p.m.

Also on Thursday, in a 6 p.m. game at Tatnall, No. 15 Polytech will play No. 18 Newark Charter.

The Riders and Ravens tied for the No. 16 spot with CR taking the lower seed because it beat Sussex Tech during the regular season.

Henlopen Conference Northern Division champion Smyrna tied with St. Mark’s and Ursuline for the fifth seed but took the No. 7 slot based on tiebreakers. In Saturday’s second round, Smyrna will face the winner of the first-round match between No. 10 Tatnall and No. 23 A.I. DuPont.

VOLLEYBALL

DIAA state tournament

First round

Thursday, Nov. 3

At Caesar Rodney

12-Wilmington Charter vs. 21-Delmarva Christian

16-Caesar Rodney vs. 17-Sussex Tech, 7 p.m.

At Caravel

24-St. Georges vs. Red Lion Christian, 6 p.m.

13-Conrad vs. 20-Caravel, 7 p.m.

At Tatnall

15-Polytech vs. 18-Newark Charter, 6 p.m.

10-Tatnall vs. 23 AI DuPont, 7 p.m.

At St. Thomas More

14-Cape Henlopen vs. 19-Appoquinimink, 6 p.m.

11-St. Thomas More vs. 22-Delmar, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5

Second round

1-Tower Hill vs. 16-CR/17-Sussex Tech

8-Wilmington Friends vs. 9-Red Lion/24-St. Georges

4-Delaware Military vs. 13-Conrad/20-Caravel

5-St. Mark’s vs. 12-Wilmington Christian/21-Delmarva Christian

2-Archmere vs. 15-Polytech/18-Newark Charter

7-Smyrna vs. 10-Tatnall/23-A.I. DuPont

3-Padua vs. 14-Cape Henlopen/19-Appoquinimink

6-Ursuline vs. 11-St. Thomas More/22-Delmar

Tuesday, Nov. 8

Quarterfinals

Sites and times TBA

Thursday, Nov. 10

Semifinals

Sites and times TBA

Monday, Nov. 14

Finals

At Carpenter Center