Brooke Hanson

Home: Woodland Hills, Calif.
Birth Year: 1981
Resides: Ventura, Calif.
Height: 5’ 8”
College: California-Santa Barbara

Personal: Hanson is the third of four kids, with two brothers (Brett, Troy) and one sister (Emily), and has a pit bull (Roxy). Both of her parents, Randy and Tria, played beach volleyball. She served three seasons as an assistant coach at UCSB under her mentor Kathy Gregory, who tallied 50 beach volleyball titles. Also serving with her on the staff was Angela Rock (27 titles). Formerly Brooke Niles, she was married to Brendan Hanson in December 2005.

Highlights: 2011: Hanson and Lauren Fendrick began the year by winning the first NORCECA event in the Cayman Islands. The duo then advanced from the country quota and qualifier to reach the semifinals in the FIVB season opener in Brasilia… 2010: Hanson continued to play with Rutledge, with a best of seventh three times on the AVP Tour... on the FIVB Tour, Hanson and Rutledge started the year in Brasilia as the 25th-seeded qualifier team, and finished with a career best fifth-place… began a partnership with Lauren Fendrick, garnering a season-best fifth-place finish in their second event together in Long Beach… Hanson and Fendrick played six FIVB tournaments together, with a best of ninth in Sanya… 2009: Hanson formed a partnership with Lisa Rutledge, and the duo advanced to six semifinals on the AVP Tour, including the championship match in their first ever trip to the semifinals in San Diego... The duo played two FIVB events but did not make the main draw in either tournament… 2008: Hanson missed the entire AVP season with an injury, but played in an FIVB qualifier in October with Akers… 2007: Continued her partnership with Akers, placing fifth in the season opener. In July the pair represented the U.S. at the Pan American Games in Brazil, where they finished fifth. Following that event, the duo advanced to three AVP semifinals, including her first championship match in Chicago… they finished the season with a third in Cincinnati and fourth in San Francisco in the last two team events... placing fifth or better in seven events, the duo ended as the seventh ranked team on the Tour... Hanson, who also played one event with Jennifer Fopma during the season, ended ranked 16th in season points and competed in the individual event… Hanson was again third in digs per game (6.24) and was seventh in kills per game (6.90)… 2006: Began the season with Straton, getting a best of fifth in eight tournaments... Hanson played the next three events with Logan Tom, with a best of 13th, then the final three events with Angie Akers, with a best of ninth. She was third in digs per game (5.79) and ninth in aces per game (.67)… 2005: Played the first four events with Guerra, with a best of ninth... For the remaining nine tournaments, she played with Sarah Straton... Hanson and Straton had a pair of fifths and Hanson ended as the 13th-ranked player on tour... She was second in digs per game (6.29)… 2004: With Guerra advanced to the main draw in five of six events, with a best of 13th. In the final four events the duo was seeded directly into the main draw, placing ninth twice. Hanson was eighth in digs per game (4.67)… 2003: Formed a partnership with another former college teammate, Courtney Guerra. They played in five qualifiers, but didn't advance to the main draw in any of them… 2002: Hanson made her pro beach volleyball debut in a qualifier in Santa Barbara with Brooke Rundle, a former teammate at UCSB.

Partners: 2011: Lauren Fendrick. 2010: Lisa Rutledge, Fendrick. 2009: Rutledge. 2008: Angie Akers. 2007: Akers, Jennifer Fompa. 2006: Logan Tom, Akers. 2005: Sarah Straton, Courtney Guerra. 2003- 2004: Guerra. 2002: Brooke Rundle.

Honors: AVP Best Defensive Player in 2009

College Highlights: Hanson was a four-year letter winner at UC-Santa Barbara where she played every position except for middle blocker… was a third-team All-American her senior year and ranked third nationally in assists in 2002... as an outside hitter was named the Big West Freshman of the Year in 1999… three times was selected to the all-conference team… graduated with a degree in Law and Society… she left the school ranked fifth in career digs, sixth in assists, and eighth in aces.