Hodson, Winkler on U.S. team

Corona del Mar High junior Hayley Hodson and former UC Irvine player Kristin Winkler are among 19 players that will be competing for Team USA in the FIVB Women’s U-23 Volleyball World Championships in Mexico Oct. 5-12.

The U.S. team, coached by Karch Kiraly, are among 12 squads competing in the inaugural tournament that will take place in Tijuana.

CdM will be without its star outside hitter Hodson as the Sea Kings open Pacific Coast League play Oct. 3.

Hodson helped the Americans win the silver medal at the FIVB U-18 World Cahmpionships in Thailand last month. It was the first time a U.S. team medaled at the world championships on the youth or junior level.

Last year, Hodson led the Sea Kings to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 1-AA playoffs and made the first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division 1-AA, second-team All-Orange County (the Register), Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team and first-team All-Pacific Coast League after she recorded 453 kills.

— Steve Virgen