Pillager, Minnesota · JO Club Volleyball · 2026/27 Season
Pillager Huskies JO Volleyball
Team First. Growth Mindset. Respect the Game. The Pillager JO program develops athletes to compete at a higher level of volleyball, aligned with the Pillager School Volleyball program for continuous improvement.
Nov 21–22 · Open gym starts December — Sundays 6:00–8:00 PM at Pillager School
Program Philosophy
The goal of the Pillager JO program is to help athletes compete and succeed at a higher level of volleyball — building a program every player, parent, and coach can count on.
Team First
No one is bigger than the program. We win and lose as a team.
Growth Mindset
Mistakes are opportunities. Learn, adapt, and get better.
Respect the Game
Show respect to teammates, coaches, officials, and opponents at all times.
Team Selection & Evaluations
One evaluation weekend, seven age divisions, a fair and consistent process.
Evaluators are recruited from outside the Pillager community and will work alongside committee members and/or coaches — every athlete is scored the same way, on passing, setting, hitting, serving, sportsmanship, attitude, and leadership.
Rosters are capped at 10 players per team. For 13U–17U, evaluations are competitive: not every athlete who tries out is guaranteed a roster spot this season. 11U and 12U athletes try out for one of two tracks — the Elite team, or the In-House team, which travels closer to Pillager.
| Coach applications open | Oct 1 |
| Tryouts | Nov 21–22 |
| Rosters posted | Nov 25 |
| Team practices begin | Late Feb 2027 |
Programs & Fees
Seven age divisions, ten roster spots each. 11U and 12U choose their track at tryouts.
| Division | Track | Roster Cap | Tryout Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11U | Elite or In-House | 10 / team | Placed on a track |
| 12U | Elite or In-House | 10 / team | Placed on a track |
| 13U | Competitive | 10 / team | Cuts possible |
| 14U | Competitive | 10 / team | Cuts possible |
| 15U | Competitive | 10 / team | Cuts possible |
| 16U | Competitive | 10 / team | Cuts possible |
| 17U | Competitive | 10 / team | Cuts possible |
Fees are announced with tryout registration and are non-refundable. 100% of player fees fund tournament registration, coaches’ wages, equipment, and mini camps. Refunds for injury are considered case-by-case by the board.
Every Player Rotates
Six on the floor, six zones, one clockwise rotation after every side-out. Huskies coaches teach every position so athletes understand the whole court, not just one job.
Announcements
What’s happening with the program right now.
Oct 1
Coach Applications Open
Head and assistant coach positions open for all seven divisions — up to two coaches per team. All coaches complete a board interview, background check, and the Pillager JO Coaches Handbook before the season begins.
Nov 21–22
Tryout Weekend — Save the Date
Evaluations for 11U–17U run both days. Rosters are capped at 10 per team; 13U–17U evaluations are competitive, and 11U/12U athletes choose between the Elite and In-House tracks.
Coming Soon
Season Handbook Posted
The 2026/27 handbook covers player and parent expectations, evaluation criteria, volunteer credits, and payment deadlines. Please review it before tryout registration.
Upcoming Schedule
Tryouts in November, open gym starting in December, team practices beginning late February.
| Day | Time | Group | Focus | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Nov 21 | TBD by division | 11U – 17U | Tryout evaluations · Day 1 | Tryout weekend |
| Sun Nov 22 | TBD by division | 11U – 17U | Tryout evaluations · Day 2 | Tryout weekend |
| Sun | 6:00 – 8:00 PM | All divisions | Open gym & conditioning · Pillager School | Begins December |
| Sun / Mon / Thu | Times posted with rosters | Rostered teams | Regular season practice | Starts late Feb 2027 |
Team practice times and the tournament calendar post with rosters on Nov 25 — check back for the full schedule.
Four Ways to Support
Pillager Huskies JO Volleyball runs on families showing up in more than one way.
01
Try Out
11U–17U, evaluations Nov 21–22. Rosters are capped at 10 per team.
02
Apply to Coach
Applications open Oct 1 for all seven divisions. Board interview and background check required; up to two coaches per team.
03
Volunteer
Earn $10 in program-fee credit for every hour you volunteer at a Pillager JO fundraiser — up to $50 per player, per season.
04
Sponsor
100% of program fees fund tournaments, coaching, equipment, and camps. Sponsorships help keep it that way.
Board & Contact
Parent concerns go to the committee by email — never to a coach before, during, or immediately after a tournament.
| President | Sarah Smith |
| Vice President | Jay Personius |
| Secretary | Kelly Brown |
| Treasurer | Karla Skwira |
| Communications | Misty Cremers |
| Technology | Jason Brown |
| Grade Reps | Kavanaugh · Kadus · Witucki · Amundson |
| pillagerjovolleyball@gmail.com | |
| Pillager Huskies JO Volleyball | |
| Heja App | VS-690107 |
| PO Box 3, Pillager, MN 56473 |
Back the Huskies
Tryout weekend is November 21–22. Open gym starts in December — Sundays, 6:00–8:00 PM at Pillager School — to help everyone stay sharp before team practices begin. Sponsorships and volunteer hours keep the season affordable for every family.
| Tryouts | Nov 21 – 22 |
| Open gym | Sundays · 6:00–8:00 PM |
| Location | Pillager School |