Pillager, Minnesota · JO 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 · Pre-tryout open gym Sun Nov 15, 4:30–6:00 PM · Open gym Sundays 6:00–7:30 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, eight age divisions, a fair and consistent process.
Two evaluators recruited from outside the Pillager community lead the 13U–17U tryouts, with input from established JO coaches. Board members may help with the flow of tryouts but do not evaluate, coaches do not evaluate their own children, and Pillager School volleyball coaches are not part of team selection. Every athlete is scored on the same rating form — passing, setting, hitting, serving, blocking, sportsmanship, coachability, attitude, and leadership.
We expect one team per age level with rosters of about 10. If enough athletes try out, the evaluators and board may add teams. For 13U–17U, evaluations are competitive and cuts are possible. 7th and 8th graders may choose to try out with the 13U/14U group or the 15U–17U group; please choose carefully, as we intend to keep athletes in the group they choose. 10U, 11U and 12U athletes try out for one of two tracks — the Travel team, which travels farther for tournaments, or the Local team, which plays tournaments closer to Pillager.
| Coach applications open | Oct 1 |
| Registration opens | Nov 1 |
| Application deadline | Wed, Nov 18 |
| Tryouts | Nov 21–22 |
| Team placements | By email once rosters are final |
| Team practices begin | Late Feb 2027 |
Programs & Fees
Eight age divisions, with rosters of about 10 and more teams added if numbers warrant. 10U, 11U and 12U choose their track at tryouts.
| Division | Track | Roster Size | Tryout Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10U | Travel or Local | About 10 / team | Placed on a track |
| 11U | Travel or Local | About 10 / team | Placed on a track |
| 12U | Travel or Local | About 10 / team | Placed on a track |
| 13U | Competitive | About 10 / team | Cuts possible |
| 14U | Competitive | About 10 / team | Cuts possible |
| 15U | Competitive | About 10 / team | Cuts possible |
| 16U | Competitive | About 10 / team | Cuts possible |
| 17U | Competitive | About 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.
Announcements
What’s happening with the program right now.
Oct 1
Coach Applications Open
Head and assistant coach positions open for all eight 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. Apply now →
Nov 21–22
Tryout Weekend — Save the Date
13U/14U (1:00–3:00 PM) and 15U–17U (3:30–5:30 PM) try out both days at the Pillager High School gym; 10U–12U are evaluated Sunday, 1:00–3:00 PM, at the Pillager Middle School gym. We expect rosters of about 10 per team, with more teams added if numbers warrant; 13U–17U evaluations are competitive, and 10U–12U athletes choose between the Travel and Local tracks.
Nov 1
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. Read the handbook (PDF) →
Upcoming Schedule
Open gym starting Nov 1, tryouts Nov 21–22, team practices beginning late February.
| Day | Time | Group | Focus | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Nov 15 | 4:30 – 6:00 PM | All divisions | Pre-tryout open gym · Pillager School | Before tryouts |
| Sat Nov 21 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM | 13U / 14U | Tryout evaluations · Day 1 · Pillager High School gym | Tryout weekend |
| Sat Nov 21 | 3:30 – 5:30 PM | 15U – 17U | Tryout evaluations · Day 1 · Pillager High School gym | Tryout weekend |
| Sun Nov 22 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM | 10U – 12U | One-day evaluation · Pillager Middle School gym | Tryout weekend |
| Sun Nov 22 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM | 13U / 14U | Tryout evaluations · Day 2 · Pillager High School gym | Tryout weekend |
| Sun Nov 22 | 3:30 – 5:30 PM | 15U – 17U | Tryout evaluations · Day 2 · Pillager High School gym | Tryout weekend |
| Sun | 6:00 – 7:30 PM | All divisions | Open gym & conditioning · Pillager School | Begins Nov 1 |
| Sun / Mon / Thu | Times posted with rosters | Rostered teams | Regular season practice | Starts late Feb 2027 |
Team practice times and the tournament calendar are shared with team placements once rosters are final — 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
10U–17U, evaluations Nov 21–22. Rosters of about 10 per team, with more teams if numbers warrant.
02
Apply to Coach
Applications are open for all eight 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 runs Sundays, 6:00–7:30 PM at Pillager School, starting Nov 1, with a pre-tryout open gym on Sunday, Nov 15, 4:30–6:00 PM, to help everyone stay sharp before team practices begin. Sponsorships and volunteer hours keep the season affordable for every family.
| Tryouts | Nov 21 – 22 |
| Pre-tryout open gym | Sun Nov 15 · 4:30–6:00 PM |
| Open gym | Sundays from Nov 1 · 6:00–7:30 PM |
| Location | Pillager School |