IRVINE, CALIF. – Former UC Irvine All-American Thomas Hodges will be heading to the Paris Olympic Games as a member of Australia's beach volleyball team.

Hodges and teammate Zach Schubert ranked 16^th in the world ranking qualification to earn the Paris quota.

He will make his Olympic debut playing beneath the Eiffel Tower. The event is scheduled from July 27-August 10.

Hodges played three years for the Anteater (2015-2017), earning honorable mention AVCA and Volleyballmag.com All-American status as a senior. He was named second team All-MPSF after averaging 2.89 kill per set in 2017.

The outside hitter was tabbed MPSF Player of the Week Mar. 13, 2017 after recording 11 kills, an ace, three digs and three blocks in an upset of No. 1 Ohio State that snapped the Buckeyes' 42-match winning streak. He put away a career-high 21 kills versus Hawaii (2/21/17) and six blocks against CSUN (3/3/17).

Hodges becomes the third Anteater to qualify for the Paris Games, joining David Smith (USA Men's Indoor Volleyball) and Tara Prentice (USA Women's Water Polo).