SPRINGFIELD – All five volleyball coaches agreed on one thing about the inaugural North Star Jamboree at Springfield High School on Aug. 29.
It was a smashing success.
“Jamborees really are a unique opportunity to play good ball and also play with your lineup a little bit and take some risks,” Pleasant Hill coach Jessica Crawford said. “We mixed it up a little bit. That’s how we grow as players and coaches.
Pleasant Hill coach Jessica Crawford. BOB WILLIAMS/ THE CHRONICLE
“It’s the best jamboree I’ve ever been a part of,” she said.
Pleasant Hill was the only team to go 4-0 during the jamboree. The Billies, Springfield, Thurston, Creswell, and Cottage Grove all played one 25-point set against each other.
Cottage Grove pulled off the first surprise of the day, defeating Thurston 25-22 as Taylor Bennett put away the game-winner with a big hit.
Cottage Grove coach Abby Ladd. BOB WILLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE
“We were excited to see how different players play in different situations against different hitters and different teams and you get to do a lot of that quickly when you’re playing one set against each team,” Cottage Grove coach Abby Ladd said. “Our goal every day is to walk out of the gym better than when we walked in.”
With no returning starters, Thurston struggled most of the day, but the Colts gave Pleasant Hill its toughest game, leading 18-16 before the Billies reeled off the final nine points to win 25-18.
“We played two-thirds of a good game. That’s not good enough,” Thurston coach David Natt said. “I graduated eight last year – we only have four returning players. It’s a matter of shaking off the cobwebs and getting ready to play.
Thurston coach David Natt. BOB WILLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE
“But anything we can do to support good local journalism, we’re going to do it. If that means coming to a jamboree and playing a little bit of volleyball to support good local journalism, then Thurston volleyball is behind it.”
The North Star Jamboree is sponsored by The Chronicle.
“As this grows, as these bleachers fill up, it will be even better for everybody – for all the schools and the communities that are represented here,” Natt said.
Anna Baltrusch, beginning her 32nd year as Creswell’s coach, said her girls loved playing in the jamboree.
Creswell volleyball coach Anna Baltrusch. BOB WILLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE
“This is very cool. It’s a great facility and we finally get to play a little after practicing for so long,” Baltrusch said. “But we’ve got a lot to work on. I have a long list of things that we need to fix.”
Springfield’s Steve Smith enjoyed hosting the inaugural event. Even though he’s a first-year coach for the Millers, he’s been around the block a time or two.
“This is so cool, being a new coach, you get to see what we need to work on, so this jamboree is perfect,” Smith said.
Springfield coach Steve Smith. PHOTO PROVIDED
“I’ve been coaching for 29 years so I know a lot of these kids and their parents from club competition, and I know a lot of the coaches too, so it’s awesome getting to see everybody.”
Read full coverage of the event here.
