COTTAGE GROVE – The 3rd annual North Star Volleyball Jamboree returns Thursday, Aug. 27 – this time hosted at Cottage Grove High School. The preseason tournament features the girls varsity teams from Springfield, Thurston, Cottage Grove, Creswell, and Pleasant Hill high schools.

The tournament was conceived as a way to shine a spotlight on girls athletics in the fall, particularly in such a talent-rich area as the southern Willamette Valley. The focus is on the athletes in the small and rural towns. The event is presented by The Chronicle Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting education and other nonprofits in print and online.

The “North Star” represents The Chronicle’s commitment to hyper-local coverage.

“We’re looking forward to making this year’s event even better,” said Noel Nash, the Foundation’s president.

The jamboree’s first year was at Class 5A Springfield High and last year was hosted by Class 3A Pleasant Hill. Cottage Grove is in the 4A classification.

The event is scheduled for noon-4 p.m., utilizing both of the Lions’ on-campus gyms. Before play begins, the tournament features a luncheon for players that includes a keynote address. Jennifer Richardson of Richardson Media spoke the first year and Lauren Anderson, director of UO’s Warsaw Sports Business Center, was last year’s speaker.

Nothing Bundt Cakes supplies mini-bundts for the luncheon and Creswell’s Point S Tire & Auto donates water.

More details, including this year’s guest speaker, will be announced later.