Going through this year’s DIAA Girls Volleyball State Tournament bracket, one would have to go all the way down to seed No. 9 before finally stumbling upon a downstate team.

Volleyball, traditionally in the First State, is an upstate-dominated sport, but that No. 9-seed, Caesar Rodney High School, is looking to start changing that this postseason.

Head Coach Tiffany Ranger said that has become somewhat of a goal for her Riders squad this season, and is in the back of their minds going into the first round.

“They want to go out that way. They want to leave a mark and say that downstate teams are competitive,” Ranger said of her senior-heavy squad.

The Riders (16-2) will square off in the first-round against No. 8 A.I. DuPont High School (12-3) at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Wilmington Friends High School, Talleyville.

The first-round match will give CR a chance to start proving it belongs among the state’s elite, as well as an opportunity to reverse the poor fortunes of 2008.

A year ago, the Riders were ousted in the first round of the tournament when as No. 11 seed they were easily beaten by No. 6 Wilmington Friends, 3-0.

Ranger said that even though that loss is more than a year in the past, it is a match that still lingers in the minds of many of her players, and has been used as a motivating factor this season.

“The majority of seniors that start this year started last year, so they had a little taste of that, and didn’t like the taste that was left in their mouths after going out in three games,” she said. “So the taste of getting there and playing well is something they want back. They want to prove to themselves they belong.”

To start preparing for their run at redemption, the Riders toughened up their schedule this year, adding nine upstate teams to their 18-game schedule. They went 7-2 in those matches, and four of the teams they faced made this year’s tournament.

Senior outside hitter Macy Farrell said facing the tougher competition has the team much more prepared this season, something she said has added confidence to the group.

“Seeing and playing the teams from up north really gives us a whole different perspective of how they play and its just another level of competition,” Farrell said. “Seeing and playing against them and just competing with them gives us more of an attitude that we can play with them.”

Still, with the success CR has had this season facing competition from up north, Ranger said its been important to keep her girls grounded and focused heading into the playoffs.

Earlier this season, A.I. DuPont defeated Concord, 3-0, while the Riders lost to Concord, 3-2. That match, she said, should show her girls that they still have something to prove.

“It’s going to be a good match,” Ranger said. “We have our work cut out for us. But as long as we play the way we’ve been playing, we should do well. They’re seeded No. 8 and we’re No. 9, so it’s kind of an even base. It really depends on who comes out to play that day.”

Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com

UP NEXT
WHO No. 9 Caesar Rodney High School (16-2) at No. 8 A.I. DuPont High School (12-3)
WHEN 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
WHERE Wilmington Friends High School, 101 School Road, Talleyville