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The 2026 DIAA Girls Volleyball State Tournament starts on Wednesday, November 4, and runs until the state championship game on November 16.
The full 24-team field for the 2026 DIAA Girls Volleyball State Tournament was announced on Sunday, November 1, kicking off the beginning of a jam-packed month of fall high school sports postseason tournaments.
The top-seed in this year’s tournament was claimed by the undefeated Caesar Rodney Riders. The Riders finished the regular season with 15 wins and swept Lake Forest in the Henlopen Conference Championship game to earn the top-seed and a first round bye.
The second through eighth seeds also earn a bye through the first round. Those teams include: Middletown, Padua, Newark Charter, undefeated Tower Hill, Saint Mark’s, Dover and Sussex Central.
The first round of games will be played on Wednesday and Thursday with all games scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. The second round will follow on Friday and Saturday, all but one of those games are scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. The time for Tower Hill’s round two game has yet to be announced. The higher seeds will host the matchup.
Here’s a look at the matchups for rounds one and two of the 2026 DIAA Girls Volleyball State Tournament:
Round One: (All games start at 6:00 p.m.)
No. 9 Archmere vs No. 24 Charter School of Wilmington: This game will be played at Archmere on Thursday, November 5. The Auks defeated the Forces, 3-0, earlier this season.
No. 10 Lake Forest vs No. 23 Sussex Academy: The Spartans and Seahawks will meet for the second time this season. Lake Forest won the first matchup, 3-1. The game will be at Lake Forest on Wednesday, November 4.
No. 11 St. Georges vs No. 22 Delmarva Christian Academy: The first meeting between these two teams will be held at St. Georges on Wednesday, November 4.
No. 12 Appoquinimink vs No. 21 Wilmington Friends: The Jaguars and Quakers will face off for the first time this season on Thursday, November 5, at Appoquinimink.
No. 13 Caravel vs No. 20 Concord: The first meeting between the two teams will be held at Caravel on Wednesday, November 4.
No. 14 Cape Henlopen vs No. 19 Sanford: The Vikings and Warriors will face each other for the first time this season in Lewes on Thursday, November 5.
No. 15 Smyrna vs No. 18 Mount Pleasant: Smyrna and Mt. Pleasant will play each other for the first time this season on Thursday, November 5, at Smyrna.
No. 16 Conrad vs No. 17 Delaware Military Academy: A rematch of an early October matchup, this game will be played at Conrad on Wednesday, November 4. The Red Wolves won the first game, 3-0.
Round Two: (All games start at 6:00 p.m. with the exception of Tower Hill’s matchup)
No. 1 Caesar Rodney vs Winner of No. 16 Conrad/No. 17 Delaware Military Academy: Friday, November 6, at Caesar Rodney
No. 2 Middletown vs Winner of No. 15 Smyrna/No. 18 Mount Pleasant: Saturday, November 7, at Middletown
No. 3 Padua vs Winner of No. 14 Cape Henlopen/No. 19 Sanford: Saturday, November 7, at Padua
No. 4 Newark Charter vs Winner of No. 13 Caravel/No. 20 Concord: Friday, November 6, at Newark Charter
No. 5 Tower Hill vs Winner of No. 12 Appoquinimink/No. 21 Wilmington Friends: Saturday, November 7, at Tower Hill, the game time has yet to be announced
No. 6 Saint Mark’s vs Winner of No. 11 St. Georges/No. 22 Delmarva Christian Academy: Friday, November 6, at Saint Mark’s
No. 7 Dover vs Winner of No. 10 Lake Forest/No. 23 Sussex Academy: Friday, November 6, at Dover
No. 8 Sussex Central vs Winner of No. 9 Archmere/No. 24 Charter School of Wilmington: Saturday, November 7, at Sussex Central
To see the full bracket click here.
Ryan Colasanti joins Delaware Live following four years at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. There he covered multiple sports for the school’s radio station as both a reporter and editor. Ryan is excited to return back to the state and cover all things Delaware sports.
