Carlson makes national team for beach volleyball

Jeff Carlson, a recent Corona del Mar High graduate, has been selected to compete at the Federation Internationale de Volleyball 2008 Youth World Championships for beach volleyball July 30-Aug. 3 in Hague, Netherlands, USA Volleyball recently announced.

Carlson, who will play for USC next year, will be teamed up with Tony Ciarelli of Huntington Beach.

Carlson led the Sea Kings with 289 kills, and had 171 digs, 50 aces and 22 blocks in his senior season as an outside hitter for the Sea Kings, earning first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division II honors. He was also a first-team All-Pacific Coast League choice who helped lead CdM to the league title and to the semifinals of the CIF Division II playoffs.

“I’m really excited about the players we have chosen for the U.S. Youth National Beach Team and it’s been exciting to see their exponential growth in such a short time of training,” said Danalee Corso, the U.S. Volleyball master coach for beach volleyball programs. “I truly believe they all have the potential to be top pro beach players some day.”

Carlson has also been chosen for the training teams for the 2008 FIVB Junior World Championships for beach volleyball Sept. 3-7 in Brighton, England.

Grant Hilling, of Newport Beach, was also named to the training team headed for England.

— From staff reports