Standout coming to CdM

Hayley Hodson, a 6-foot-1 standout girls’ volleyball player, has moved from Laguna Beach and will attend Corona del Mar High this upcoming school year, confirmed Don Grable, the school’s athletic director.

Hodson, an incoming freshman, played with current CdM player Alexis Cage on a talented under-16 team with the TStreet Volleyball Club out of Irvine. TStreet recently placed seventh in the open division at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships in Atlanta.

Another notable player from TStreet, Bailey Tanner, planned to transfer to CdM as well, but her father, Troy Tanner, said the move was highly unlikely. Tanner said his daughter, a 6-1 opposite and setter, would be home-schooled and not play for San Clemente High next season as a junior.

Tanner said both his daughter and Cage, the daughter of former NBA player Michael Cage, have committed to play for the University of Washington women’s volleyball program.

Tanner said he expects Hodson, an outside hitter and opposite, to contribute at CdM as a freshman. With Hodson teaming up with Cage, a 6-2 incoming junior, the Sea Kings should contend for a CIF Southern Section Division I-A title despite losing senior standouts Morgan Boukather (Stanford), Claire Ham (Auburn) and Hailey Senske.

The program expects outside hitter Mary McKennon and middle blocker Britton Taylor to return for their senior years. The two helped the Sea Kings (24-8, 10-0 in Pacific Coast League) win the league title and reach the semifinals of the playoffs.

Next season will be Marissa Booker’s first as coach at CdM. The addition of a rising star can only help Booker in her debut.