Second-seeded Smyrna High and No. 3 Caesar Rodney top a group of eight Downstate schools that made the 24-team field for the DIAA girls' volleyball state tournament.

The top eight teams receive first-round byes for the tourney, which begins with matches on Wednesday and Thursday.

All matches in the first three rounds will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be available on Monday from GoFan.

In matches involving Downstate teams on Wednesday night, No. 10 Dover (12-3) hosts No. 23 Conrad (9-6); No.20 Sussex Central (9-6) goes to No. 13

Appoquinimink (9-6); and No. 22 Indian River (8-7) travels to No. 11 Concord (12-3);

On Thursday, No. 15 Cape Henlopen (9-6) hosts No. 18 Delmarva Christian (8-7) while No. 16 Sussex Academy (10-5) hosts No. 17 Wilmington Friends (9-5).

In the second round on Saturday, No. 2 Smyrna (14-1) will host the winner of the Cape Henlopen/Delmarva Christian matchup while No. 3 CR (13-2) will host the winner of the match between No. 14 Archmere and No. 19 Caravel.

Saint Mark's (14-1) is the tournament's top seed, with the finals set for Nov. 16 at the Carpenter Center in Newark.

Smyrna 3, Sussex Academy 0: The North champion Eagles won the Henlopen Conference title with a 25-11, 25-16, 25-16 win over the Seahawks on Saturday.

It was the sixth time Smyrna (15-1) has won the Henlopen championship match in eight apperances.

GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL
DIAA State tournament

Matches start at 6:30 p.m. unless noted.

First round
Wednesday, Nov. 1

20-Sussex Central (9-6) at 13-Appoquinimink (9-6)
21-Delaware Military (7-8) at 12-St. Georges (11-4)
23-Conrad (9-6) at 10-Dover (12-3)
22-Indian River (8-7) at 11-Concord (12-3)

Thursday, Nov. 2

17-Wilm. Friends (9-5) at 16-Sussex Academy (10-5)
24-Sanford (7-8) at 9-Tower Hill (14-1)
18-Delmarva Christian (8-7) at 15-Cape Henlopen (9-6)
19-Caravel (7-8) at 14-Archmere (9-6)

Second round
Friday, Nov. 3

Sussex Central/Appo at 4-Ursuline (12-3)
DMA/St. Georges at 5-Padua (9-6)
Dover/Conrad at 7-Newark Charter (12-3)
IR/Concord at 6-Wilmington Charter (10-5)

Saturday, Nov. 4

Sussex Academy/Friends at 1-Saint Mark's (14-1)
Sanford/Tower Hill at 8-Middletown (13-2)
Cape/Delmarva Christian at 2-Smyrna (14-1)
Caravel/Archmere at 3-Caesar Rodney (13-2)

Quarterfinals
Thursday, Nov. 9

Sites and times TBA

Semifinals
Monday, Nov. 13

At the Carpenter Center

Finals
Thursday, Nov. 16

At the Carpenter Center