Beach Bits:

• After not emerging from the qualifier in her first six events during her first two seasons, her last six years have seen Hanson ranked as a top 32 player each time (2004-07, 2009-10).
• In July 2007 Hanson and Angie Akers competed in the Pan Am Games, then completed the AVP season with a 17-8 match record.
• In April 2010 Hanson and Lisa Rutledge emerged from the qualifier in Brasilia as the 25th seed to place fifth, becoming the lowest seeded qualifier team to garner a fifth-place finish or better in FIVB history.

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. They did not advance from the qualifier in three of the next four FIVB events. Hanson then began a partnership with Lauren Fendrick, garnering a season-best fifth-place finish in their second event together in Long Beach.
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. The duo 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.

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

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.