Billies hosting preseason VB Jamboree on Aug. 28

PLEASANT HILL – The 2nd annual North Star Volleyball Jamboree is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 28, from noon to 5 p.m. at Pleasant Hill High School. The preseason tournament includes the defending champion Billies, Thurston, Springfield, Cottage Grove, and Creswell girls volleyball teams.

Pleasant Hill, which held the No. 1 ranking in Class 3A most of the last season before losing in the state semifinals, won the inaugural event at Springfield High School. 

“Last year’s inaugural jamboree was a great experience,” said Jessica Crawford, Billies coach. “The jamboree is a nice way for local teams to connect and have the opportunity to prepare for the upcoming season.” 

The Billies battling the Thurston Colts in last year’s North Star Jamboree. They went undefeated and dominated all four teams 4-0.
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Creswell enters this year’s jamboree with a more experienced team led by Piper Hanson, a UO commit. 

Class 5A schools Springfield and Thurston both made coaching changes in the offseason and are looking to grow their programs in the talent-rich southern Willamette Valley. 

Cottage Grove, a Class 4A program, finished 11-10 last season. After winning their play-in match 3-1 vs. Mazama, they lost to Henley 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs on the road.

Pleasant Hill is the smallest high school among the four schools, with only 324 students in grades 9-12. It is also located in a fringe, rural setting.
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The event is supported by The Chronicle Foundation, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Points S Tire & Auto of Creswell, and the Springfield Twin Rivers Rotary chapter.